The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
NCAA Championship
Men’s Golf falls 3-2 to Duke in NCAA Championship Match Play quarterfinals
05.29.2018 | Men's Golf
Soosman and Chervony earn individual wins, but Ghim falls in heart-breaker in decisive match.
STILLWATER, Okla. — The 2017-18 University of Texas Men's Golf season came to a heart-breaking end Tuesday, as the Longhorns fell to Duke, 3-2, in the NCAA Championship Match Play quarterfinals at Karsten Creek Golf Club. With the match tied at 2-all, Duke's Jake Shuman holed an eagle putt on the 18th hole to post a 1-up victory against UT senior All-American Doug Ghim and advance the Blue Devils to the NCAA semifinals.
In the decisive match, Ghim found himself 4-down through the first six holes. But the Texas senior, who earlier in the morning was named a PING First-Team All-America selection, began an inspired comeback by winning the 7th hole to get to 3-down. After the turn, Ghim won the 10th and 13th holes to draw within 1-down. He then won the 16th hole to even the match. Both players made bogey on the 17th hole, setting up the dramatic finish and Shuman's victory on 18.
Duke got on the board first with a 5&4 win by Alex Smalley against UT senior Scottie Scheffler. After the two players remained all-square through the first four holes, Smalley won holes 5, 7, 9, 10 and 12 before closing out the match by halving hole 14.
Texas evened the score at 1-1 when sophomore Spencer Soosman posted a 4&3 victory against Chandler Eaton. With the match all-square through four holes, Soosman won back-to-back holes at 5 and 6 to build a 2-up lead. Eaton pulled within 1-down at hole 11, but Soosman won three consecutive holes (12, 13 and 14) and then halved hole 15 to close out his victory.
Duke took a 2-1 lead after Adrien Pendaries registered a 4&3 win against UT redshirt freshman Drew Jones. Pendaries won the second and fourth holes to move to 2-up and kept that advantage through the front nine. Pendaries then won the 10th and 14th holes and halved hole 15 to seal his victory.
UT junior Steven Chervony again tied the match at 2-2 with a 3&2 win against Evan Katz. Katz grabbed a 1-up lead on the second hole, but Chervony won holes 3, 5 and 6 to build a 2-up advantage. Katz won the seventh hole and Chervony maintained a 1-up cushion through the front nine. Chervony won holes 10 and 14 to build a 3-up cushion, before halving holes 15 and 16 to close out the match win.
Post-Round Texas Quotes
Doug Ghim: "I'm so blessed and thankful for my coaching staff. They have really shown me what being a Longhorn is all about. It's kind of hard to talk about now, but I'm just really proud to be a Longhorn."
Coach John Fields: "Doug (Ghim) and Scottie (Scheffler) have been unbelievable for us. Their work ethic, their desire, their belief. That is what stands out. They are talented. The good Lord gave them talent. That is why this stings so much, because you don't want it to come to an end. They didn't want it to come to an end. When you have that much desire and you are that competitive, I think they both are blessed with an extra gene of competitiveness. It stings like no other. That's the way it ought to be. I'm excited for them. It's time to turn the page. We have a great team coming next year. These two guys (Ghim and Scheffler) are going to go on to have some serious success."
Texas vs. Duke Quarterfinal Match Play Results
Spencer Soosman (Texas) defeats Chandler Eaton (Duke), 4&3 (second match completed)
Alex Smalley (Duke) defeats Scottie Scheffler (Texas), 5&4 (first match completed)
Steven Chervony (Texas) defeats Evan Katz (Duke), 3&2 (fourth match completed)
Adrien Pendaries (Duke) defeats Drew Jones (Texas), 4&3 (third match completed)
Jake Shuman (Duke) defeats Doug Ghim (Texas), 1-up
Players Mentioned
