KANSAS CITY, MO. – The University of Sioux Falls Men's Golf Team, led by a pair of top 45 finishes from Gavin Metz and JJ Cooney, placed 15^th  at the NCAA DII Central Regional Tournament which concluded Saturday at Shoal Creek Golf Course.

While the Cougars will not advance to the NCAA DII National Championship, they completed a history-making season when they became the program's first team to earn an invite to the NCAA DII Central Regional. Today, USF closed with a total of 70-over par 922 (313-293-316). USF had a pair of top-40 finishes with NSIC Newcomer of the Year Gavin Metz finishing 29^th with a seven over par round of 220 (79-68-73) while senior JJ Cooney, the program's first four-time All-NSIC honoree, was tied for 45^th at 12-over par 224 (75-73-77).

Central Missouri won the Central Regional with a five-under par 847 (279-275-294). CMU was led by three individuals placing in the top four with Matt Hoeman the individual medalist. He had a five-under par 205 (69-70-66). Also advancing to the DII national tournament will be Indianapolis who was second place with a 12 over par total of 864 (283-289-292); Arkansas Tech at 14-over par 866 (294-283-289); and Washburn at 16-over par 868 (297-288-283).  The top four teams plus the top individual not with a team will advance to the NCAA DII National Tournament at the PGA National Resort: The National Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.  

USF Head Coach Tavia Rutherford was impressed with this team and their history performance in 2021. It is a close knit group that finished this spring with six straight top-five placings, including third at the NSIC Men's Golf Championships (second best finish at USF in the DII era - 2015, 2^nd). The team was seeded seventh and earned an invitation to the NCAA Division II Central Regional. 

"Reflecting on this season, the men have so much to be proud of: program first regional appearance, tournament win, top 5 finishes, and many conference accolades," said Rutherford. "It was a long spring and the men fought hard to get where we are today. Making it to a regional championship is a big deal and it was fun to have this team experience it," she said.
 
"It definitely wasn't the showing that we wanted, but the team never gave up on each other and they grinded all the way to the finish. It has been a pleasure coaching this special group of young men. They have helped raise the standard of excellence for the Cougar Men's Golf Program and I know we will take the lessons learned from this squad to continue to get better in the future. In a year where we didn't know if we would be competing from week to week, I am so thankful for all of the opportunities we were afforded for our graduating student-athletes. They have left an impressive mark on the program that will be hard to top and I know that this is just the beginning of the success they will have in their lives," she said.
 
USF Assistant Coach Brennan Thompson also noted the special uniqueness of this team.

"This is a special group of young men who set a goal and reached it. To put it into perspective, we traveled 6 weeks (20 out of 42 days) in a row to the start the season and eight out of 10 weeks total. These men still woke up for class, attended class, practiced, and two of them still worked to support themselves," said Thompson. "I can't express how much I admire their determination and dedication when it comes to being students, golfers, and men of God. The results of this tournament do not matter. What matters is we have three seniors graduating, one with an MBA, who will contribute greatly to society. JJ (Cooney), Brenden (Bassing), and Jacob (Zosel) are just starting their lives and I'm so excited for their future. I hope they know how much they mean to the past and future of this program. They set standards that were just dreams at one point. They, along with Jack (Evans) and Gavin (Metz) will deservedly go down as the best squad in USF history. I hope they're as proud of themselves as I am of them. It is an honor to be associated with them," Thompson said.
 
Breaking it down by team members
Metz, a sophomore from Brainerd, Minn., led USF with his placing of a tie for 29^th with his three-round total of 220 (79-68-73).  On the final day, he carded a 73 (37-36) with birdies on hole nine (536-yard, par five), hole three (195-yard, par three) and home 16 (380-yard, par four) along with nine pars. Metz opened day two with a two-under par 33 with birdies on hole 10 (388 yards, par four) and hole 16 (380-yards- par four) while adding seven pars. He closed at one-under 35 with birdies on hole one (426-yards, par four), home five (179-yard par three) and hole six (364-yard, par four). In total he had five birdies and 11 pars in that round. On day one, he had a 79 (39-40) as he totaled nine pars and a birdie on hole seven. For the tournament, he carded 29 pars and nine birdies.

Cooney, a senior from Pickstown, S.D., finished tied for 45^th as he carded a 225 (75-73-77). In his final round of his collegiate career, he shot a 77 (36-41) as he had birdies on hole nine (536-yard par five), hole 12 (360-yard par four) and hole 16 (380-yard par four) while also totaling seven pars. In the second round, he shot two-over par 73 (33-40) as he started with a two-under 33 on the opening nine holes with five pars and birdies on hole 11 (201-yard, par three), hole 13 (527-yard, par five) and hole 14 (420-yard, par four). He then had five pars for a 40 on the second nine holes. On the day, he had three birdies and 10 pars. On day one, Cooney opened with a four-over par round of 75 (37-38). He had birdies on the 579-yard par five seventh hole and the 536-yard par five ninth hole. Cooney carded 12 pars during his round.  In total, he had 29 pars and eight birdies.

Sioux Falls senior Brenden Bassing, who was also named All-NSIC this week, finished in a tie for 75^th as he shot a three-round total of 237 (79-76-82). On Saturday, he had an 82 (42-40) with birdies on hole nine (536-yard par five) and hole 13 (527-yard par five) while securing pars on seven holes.  In round two, he had a 76 (36-40) as he was consistent throughout with 13 pars on the day. On day one, he had an eight-over par total of 79 (39-40). Bassing had a birdie on hole seven and another on the 527-yard par five 13^th hole. He carded nine pars in the opening round and finished with 29 pars and four birdies.  

Senior Jacob Zosel, who was named USF Representative Man of the Year (highest honor accorded a USF student) on April 27, carded a three-round total of 32 over par 245 (80-76-89). On the final round, he had an 89 (42-47) which included nine pars. Like Bassing, he carded a five-over par 76 (36-40) on day two. In that second round, he had three birdies, including the 579-yard par five seventh hole, the 434-yard par four 15^th hole and the 464-yard par four 18^th hole. He added nine pars on the day. On day one, he had a birdie on hole nine and eight pars in shooting an 80 (38-42). He finished with four birdies and 26 pars in the tourney.

Junior Jack Evans of Brainerd, Minn., concluded his three-rounds at 28-over par 241 (80-77-84). In the final round of 84, he had birdies on hole nine (536-yard par five) and hole 16 (380-yard par four) with seven pars. He had 12 pars during his opening day round of 80 (41-39). Then he had a six-over par 77 (41-36) in day two. In that round, he had 10 pars and a pair of birdies on the 426-yard par four first hole and the 536-yard par five ninth hole. He finished with 29 pars and four birdies.