Final Match Play Results
MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. – The Georgia State Panthers claimed the 2017 Sun Belt Conference Men's Golf team title after defeating the Georgia Southern Eagles in the championship match, 3-2, on Tuesday at the Raven Golf Club at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.
The Panthers claimed match victories in the first and second groups before clinching the third and final point from group four.
Nathan Williams of Georgia State closed out Georgia Southern's Cody O'Toole on the 17th hole as he won 3&1. Williams' teammate, Nick Budd, also won his match 3&1 over Brett Barron.
Archer Price of the Eagles was victorious on the first playoff hole in his match, 1UP, defeating Max Herrmann.
The final clinching point came from GSU's Alex Herrmann. After Georgia Southern's Jake Storey hit his approach to six feet, Herrmann followed with a dart of his own, sitting just ten feet from the hole. Herrmann's putt would drop forcing Storey to make his putt to square the hole and force another playoff, but Storey's putt drifted left of the hole giving the Panthers the final point and the team championship.
It is Georgia State's second Sun Belt men's golf title as the Panthers claimed the 2014 title at Grand Bear in Saucier, Miss.
With the win, the Panthers will receive the Sun Belt's automatic bid to the NCAA men's golf championships. The NCAA men's golf selections will be announced on Thursday, May 4 on The Golf Channel starting at 11:00 a.m. (CT).
SEMIFINAL RECAPS
No. 4 seed Georgia State earned a 4-1 win over No. 1 seed Troy on Tuesday morning in the Match Play Semifinals of the Sun Belt Men's Golf Championship to advance to an all-Georgia final. Second-seeded Georgia Southern defeated No. 3 Arkansas State 3-2 in the other semifinal.
Georgia State's Max Herrmann clinched the match against Troy with par on the 18th hole to defeat Cam Norman 1UP. After sophomore Nathan Williams fell to Luke Moser 1 down in 19 holes, junior Alex Herrmann tied the match 1-1 with a 3&2 victory over Clay Vannoy.
Sophomore Nick Budd gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead with a 2UP victory over Calum Masters. Senior Nathan Mallonee earned a 2UP win over Jared Bettcher when the match was conceded after 17 holes.
Georgia Southern's Steven Fisk clinched the win for the Eagles on the 8th hole as he defeated ASU's Tanner Napier 2&1. Jake Storey won his match over Zan Luka Stirn 4&2 and Archer Price closed out Andrew Huseman 5&4. ASU's Matt Cole and Joel Wendin won their respective matches for the Red Wolves.
Championship - No. 4 Georgia State def. No. 2 Georgia Southern, 3-2
1:15 - Nathan Williams (GSU) def. Cody O'Toole (GS), 3&1
1:23 - Nick Budd (GSU) def. Brett Barron (GS), 3&1
1:31 - Archer Price (GS) def. Max Herrmann (GSU), 1UP in 19
1:39 - Alex Herrmann (GSU) def. Jake Storey (GS), 1UP
1:47 - Steven Fisk (GS) def. Nathan Mallonee (GSU), 1&2
Semifinal 1 - No. 4 Georgia State def. No. 1 Troy, 4-1
7:30 - Luke Moser (TROY) def. Nathan Williams (GSU), 1UP in 19
7:38 - Nick Budd (GSU) def. Calum Masters (TROY), 2UP
7:46 - Max Herrmann (GSU) def. Cam Norman (TROY), 1UP
7:54 - Alex Herrmann (GSU) def. Clayton Vannoy (TROY), 3&2
8:02 - Nathan Mallonee (GSU) def. Jared Bettcher (TROY), 2UP
Semifinal 2 - No. 2 Georgia Southern def. No. 3 Arkansas State, 3-2
7:30 - Matt Cole (ASU) def. Cody O'Toole (GS), 5&4
7:38 - Joel Wendin (ASU) def. Brett Barron (GS), 5&3
7:46 - Archer Price (GS) def. Andrew Huseman (ASU), 5&4
7:54 - Jake Storey (GS) def. Zan Luka Stirn (ASU), 4&2
8:02 - Steven Fisk (GS) def. Tanner Napier (ASU), 2&1