NCAA Central/Midwest Super Regional Final Results
Day 2 Recap
 
LEMONT, Ill. — When Michael Hearne came to Southern Nazarene University the Wales native had just one goal in mind on the golf course; get to the NCAA National Championship. After many tournaments won and finishing no worse than fifth in any tournament leading up to the NCAA Central/Midwest Super Regional, it all led to a playoff for the final spot to the NCAA Championship.
 
Hearne's goal will now change to an NCAA Championship as the senior birdied hole 10 on the one playoff hole to defeat Bellarmine's DJ Vogt and picked up the last bid. Hearne finished in a tie for third place at 217 after shooting his second straight 72.
 
"When I came off my last hole coach told me I was going to be in a playoff," said Hearne. "I've played match play my entire life growing up so I was comfortable with the format. I chose to hit first off the tee and hit a good shot. You try to not look nervous, but you're always nervous in that situation. He hit a great shot to get within 11 feet of the hole, but I was able to get within four feet and then sank the putt and he missed his."
 
The Crimson Storm as a team missed out reaching the National Championship as a team by just four strokes behind Indianapolis and Minnesota State Mankato who tied for fifth and went into a sudden death playoff. Indianapolis took the automatic bid after winning the tiebreaker. The Storm shot its lowest round of the tournament with a 300 and tied for the third lowest round of the day. SNU closed the super regional with a 909 in ninth place.
 
"I am very proud of the team and Mike's play," said SNU Head Coach Derrick Taylor. "I am a bit disappointed because we were only four shots back and we had a few bad rounds from a few guys. You look back and wonder how many shots we could have got back. We started out pretty good today, but hit a mid-round struggle. It's a bit hard to take to be so close, but it's so good for the program moving forward. It's a good start for our future and us building on what has been built over the years."
 
No. 18 Central Oklahoma took the team and individual titles as the Bronchos shot an 885 and were led by Eric Kline who shot a 214. No. 12 Central Missouri was 10 strokes behind in second at 895 while Missouri-St. Louis took third at 896. Southwestern Oklahoma State was just two strokes behind UMSL at 898. Southeastern Oklahoma State finished seventh at 906, Arkansas Tech tied for 11^th at 915 and Henderson State placed 14^th at 922.
 
Luke Coppedge and Cristian Valderrama each shot a 75 on the final day while Dylan Igo fired a 78 and Dalton Rhoden shot an 86. Igo closed the tournament with a 230 in a tie for 47^th while Luke Coppedge was just a stroke back at 231 in a tie for 51^st. Valderrama tied for 73^rd at 236 and Rhoden tied for 97^th at 242.
 
Hearne will now prepare to head for the NCAA National Championship at Rock Barn Golf and Spa in Conover, North Carolina. The tournament will be played May 18-22.
 
"This is what we've been playing for since I've got here," said Hearne. "To reach the super regional in the first chance and be able to get to play in the national tournament means a lot to this program and where we as a team want to head. I am just relieved and going to the national tournament is just a great feeling. I look forward to playing against the best in Division II."