May 21, 2011
RADFORD, Va. - Senior T.J. Howe (Osceola, Pa.) wrapped up the final round of his collegiate career Saturday at the NCAA Virginia Tech Regional at the Pete Dye River Course finishing tied for 32 with a three-round total of 225 (73-76-76).
Howe began play on the back nine holding even par through the first two holes. On the 12th hole, Howe shot a birdie and remained 1-under par through the 13th hole. After bogeying three holes and shooting even par on the final five holes of the back nine, Howe moved onto the front nine with a 2-over par score of 38. Howe went even par on seven of the front nine holes and bogeyed two to give him a 4-over par 76 in the final round.
Howe concluded play15 strokes behind tournament champion Oklahoma's Abraham Ancer who finished with a 3-under par score of 210 (70-71-69). Ancer, who is 82nd in the latest Golfstat rankings, led his team to a third place finish for the regional tournament, securing a spot for the Sooners in the NCAA Championship. Joining Oklahoma in the championship from the Virginia Tech Regional are first place Duke (865), second place Georgia Tech (869), fourth place LSU (880) and fifth place Kent State (893). Competing for the individuals is Coastal Carolina's Sebastian Soderburg who finished 13 strokes ahead of Howe, tied for second with rounds of 73-72-67 (212).
The NCAA Championship will take place May 31-June 5 at Karsten Creek Golf Course in Stillwater, Okla. The five teams above and individual competitor Sebastian Soderburg will match up against 25 additional teams as well as five individual competitors who competed in the NCAA Regionals at the other five sites.