Harding Men's Golf Posts Second-Place Finish at Shangri-La (Updated with Rankings)

UPDATED SCORING/RANKING INFO: Harding received 43.99 points for its tournament finish, giving the team an average of 23.94 per tournament ... that average pushed Harding to 45th in Division II and fifth in the Central Region ... the top 10 teams make the NCAA Central Region Tournament ... Harding's top individual, Sam Tandy, is ranked No. 10 nationally in Division II.

MONKEY ISLAND, Okla. – Turning in its fifth top-three finish in eight tournaments this season, the Harding men's golf team continued its push for an NCAA regional berth with a second-place showing at The Showdown @ Shangri-La.

Rogers State hosted the 54-hole tournament Monday and Tuesday at Shangri-La Country Club.

The Bisons entered the tournament ranked 53rd nationally and seventh in the Central Region. The top 10 teams qualify for the regional tournament in May.

Harding shot 287 in Tuesday's final round to finish at 2-under 850 for the tournament. It was the Bisons' second-best 54-hole score this season and fourth-best in program history.

Harding excelled on par 3s, leading the tournament at 2-under on those holes, nine strokes better than the next-best team. The Bisons also led the tournament with 56 birdies.

Senior Sam Tandy was Harding's top individual, placing second of 93 golfers with an 8-under 205. He led the tournament at 5 under on par 4s and made a team-high 14 birdies. Tandy shot 68-68-69 and now has shot par or better on 18 of his 23 rounds this season.

Freshman Jose Arzu was just behind him in third place at 5-under 208. Arzu tied with teammate Dennis Staykov for the best score on par 3s at 3 under. It was Arzu's first career top-five finish.

Senior Leo Maciejek tied for 21st at 6-over 219. Sophomore Jose Manuel Peralta tied for 28th at 8-over 221, and Staykov, a sophomore, tied for 60th at 15-over 228.

Harding next plays Apr. 15-16 when it hosts the Natural State Golf Classic at Cypress Creek Golf Course in Cabot, Arkansas.

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Players Mentioned

Leo Maciejek: 6' 1"; Senior

Sam Tandy: 5' 11"; Senior

Dennis Staykov: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Leo Maciejek
: 6' 1"; Senior

Sam Tandy
: 5' 11"; Senior

Dennis Staykov
: 6' 2"; Sophomore