AUSTIN, Texas – The College of Charleston men's golf team carded its lowest round of the tournament on Wednesday, but finished outside of the Top 5 and short of its goal of advancing to nationals out of the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Austin Regional held at the University of Texas Golf Club.
 
The Cougars shot a final-round, 5-over par 289 to place eighth overall (+23), while nine of the 14 teams in the field shot 6-under or better on the final day of competition to surge up the leaderboard including 21-under par by No. 50-ranked Iowa State and 14-under by No. 3 and eventual regional champion Oklahoma State.
 
It marked the third-best finish in program history for CofC at NCAA Regionals behind a fourth-place finish at the 2001 NCAA Central Regional and a seventh-place finish at the 2016 NCAA Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Regional.
 
With the previous two rounds averaging scores of 74.35 and 74.96, Wednesday's final round was 71.19.
 
"I am disappointed that we did not make it through to the NCAA Championship," CofC Head Coach Mark McEntire said. "I really felt that this team and course were a good match. When you look at the numbers, we did not shoot a round under par all week and it is tough to advance without shooting under par."
 
Freshman and Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year Michael Sass (Louisville, Ky.) was the Cougars' top finisher in his first NCAA Regional appearance. He tied for 20th with rounds of 72, 71 and 72 (+2) on the par-71 course, while senior All-American and CAA Player of the Year William Rainey (Charlotte, N.C.) closed out his four-year career tied for 22nd (+3) with rounds of 71, 73 and 72.
 
"I am so proud of our seniors and what they have accomplished throughout their careers at The College," McEntire said. "(William) Rainey leaves as one of the most decorated golfers in school history with four CAA Championship titles, Player of the Year honors, an individual CAA Championship title and as our first-ever NCAA Championship individual qualifier. He was also our program's second-ever PING All-American, while also a two-time CAA All-Academic Team honoree in the classroom."
 
Senior Philip Oweida (Charlotte, N.C.) tied for 38th (+8), freshman Hunter Dunagan (Augusta, Ga.) tied for 49th (+10) and senior Parker Derby (Columbus, Ga.) tied for 63rd (+15).
 
"Parker (Derby) transferred from UGA, and since then, played in every tournament, won two CAA Championship titles and claimed this year's individual CAA Championship title. Philip (Oweida) played on two CAA Championship teams, appeared in two regionals and was also a two-time CAA All-Academic Team selection. Our seniors have changed the way we will do business for the future."
 
The Top 5 teams in the Austin Regional – Oklahoma State (-13), No. 16 and host Texas (-11), Iowa State (-7), No. 22 Ole Miss (+2) and No. 26 Arizona State (+7) – advanced to the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship to be held on May 26-31 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill. No. 4-ranked Wil Zalatoris of Wake Forest (-3) advanced to nationals as the low individual (not on the Top 5 advancing teams).
 
"I am also really proud of Mike (Sass) and Hunter (Dunagan)," McEntire said. "Both along with our other talented freshmen have built a very solid nucleus for the future. We are less than 90 days until the fall and I can't wait."