WONDER BOYS SHOOT SCHOOL-RECORD 558 FOR 36 HOLES ENROUTE TO WINNING SECOND CONSECUTIVE NATURAL STATE GOLF CLASSIC

        HEBER SPRINGS, Arkansas – The Arkansas Tech Wonder Boy Golf team set a new 36-hole school record by shooting 558 as a team enroute to repeating as the champion at the 2009 Natural State Golf Classic held here at the Red Apple Inn and Country Club. Tech won last season’s Natural State Classic a 562, which is the third-lowest 36-hole total in school history.

The Wonder Boys finished 50 shots ahead of second-place Harding (608) and 60 shots in front of third place Central Baptist (618). 

Senior three-time All-GSC honoree Jarred Carlyle (Nashville, Ark.) was the tournament’s individual champion as he fired a four-under par 138 in the two-day event. Carlyle carded a five-under par 67 in Monday’s first round and then shot a one-under par 71 in Tuesday’s final round.

In fact, Tech had all six of its golfers that competed in the tournament finish in the Top 6 as senior B.J. Hawkins (Winnsboro, Texas) and junior Jonathon Spikes (Danville, Ark.) each shot two-under par 140s to finish in a tie for second place. Hawkins shot a 68 in the first round and a 72 in the second round, while Spikes carded rounds of 72 and 68 respectively. Junior Andrew Richards (Prescott, Ark.) carded a two-over par 144 to place fourth, while junior Ryan Hitt (Allen, Texas), who golfed as an individual shot a two-over par 146 (73, 73) and senior Taylor Wallner (Fayetteville, Ark.) rounded out the Tech scoring with a five-over par 147 (77, 70), which was good for sixth place.

The next time the Wonder Boys tee-off will be at the 2009 Gulf South Conference Championships beginning on Monday, April 20 at Hot Springs Country Club in Hot Springs, Ark. The teams will play 36 holes on Monday and then conclude the GSC Championship with 18 holes on Tuesday, April 21.

         1        ARKANSAS TECH         277   281 – 558

1        Jared Carlyle                  67      71 – 138

T2      BJ Hawkins                     68      72 – 140

T2      Jonathan Spikes              72      68 – 140

4        Andrew Richards             70      74 – 144

5        Ryan Hitt**                    73      73 – 146    

6        Taylor Wallner                 77      70 – 147

          ** - individual

Natural State Golf Classic results

          -- Tech Athletics --