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This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of NSU News, visit news.nova.edu.
This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of SharkBytes, visit sharkbytes.nova.edu.
Way to go, Sharks! NSU Men’s and Women’s Golf Teams Claim SSC Titles!!
The Nova Southeastern University men’s and women’s golf teams continued to define why they are two of the best golf programs in Division II last week by claiming both the men’s and women’s Sunshine State Conference titles at the Boca Country Club. Winning the SSC title automatically qualifies both teams for the NCAA South Regional tournament. The NSU men will travel Deland, Fla. for the NCAA South/South Central Super Regional hosted at the Victoria Hills Country Club May 2-4, while the women will head to Lakeland for the South Regional hosted at the Club of Eaglebrooke May 1-3.
Nova Southeastern is just the third institution in SSC history to lay claim to both the men’s and women’s title in the same year and the first since 2003. Florida Southern was the first to win the men’s and women’s titles in the same year in 1999, while Rollins was the last to win both in 2003.
“This just shows where both our golf programs are on a national level,” head coach Kevin Marsh said. “We pride ourselves as being the best as we can be and this was the first step in the post season process for both teams. It is a great feeling to coach both teams that win because they both push each other throughout the year. It was just great to watch them both win at the same time.”
It was the women’s second consecutive conference title and third overall in school history. The Sharks won their first title in 2008 followed by back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011. NSU’s Sandra Changkija (Sr., Orlando, Fla.) captured the individual title with a three-round four-over par 220 (72, 72, 76).
Coming into Tuesday’s final round, the No. 14 NSU men held a one-stroke advantage over SSC rival No. 7 Barry with a two-round 577 (+1). The Sharks got off to a slow start in the second round and were down by eight strokes through the first nine. However, on the back nine, the Sharks began making up ground and narrowed the gap to five strokes after 12 holes. Finally, freshman Ricardo Celia (Barranquilla, Columbia) clinched the Sharks’ championship by draining a 15-foot birdie putt on 18. The Sharks defeated Barry by one stroke with a three-round 873 (+9).
Celia finished tied for first with a three-round one-under 215 (72-67-76) with Barry’s Daniel Stapff to force a playoff for the individual title. After a first-hole playoff tie, Stapff drained an eagle putt on the second hole to claim the individual title. NSU claims their fourth Sunshine State Conference title and first since 2009. The Sharks won the SSC golf championship in 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011.