Sports

By Devon Jeffreys
Graphic by Carina Hayes

The worst-kept secret in Flagler College Athletics is finally official. Flagler will begin the 2006-2007 season as an NCAA Div. II school.

After a waiting process that seemed to last the entire spring semester and a good portion of the summer, the Flagler athletic department received the news in late June they had been waiting for. The school will now enter a probationary period that could last two to three years and will start out without conference affiliation. However, jumping to NCAA gives Flagler Athletics an immediate boost in status and recognition.

By Devon Jeffreys

When the Lady Saints left the court after a stunning 59-58 loss to Webber International in the conference tournament, changes were on the agenda. Just how big those changes would be was not a certainty.

Then in March came word that coach Craig Douglass was leaving the team after two years as coach. The Lady Saints were 23-34 under Douglass under performing at times and not being able to put all their talent together.

By Glenn Judah

The No. 2-ranked Saints, who struggled in their opening rounds of the NAIA National Championship, finished strong on Friday.

They finished the 72-hole tournament in 13th place by shooting a team score of 1208. Oklahoma City University took first place honors finishing with a final team score of 1154. The individual medalist winner was Joe Prince of Loma Nazarene University who shot a four-under 284 for the tournament.

By Glenn Judah

The No. 2 ranked NAIA Saints fought back yesterday to make the cut in the NAIA National Championships.

The Saints shot an even par 288 to capture the 17th and final spot to play Friday. Ian Hoffman fired a three-under par 69 to start the comeback for the Saints. Brad Barfield followed his lead also shooting under par with a score of 71. Bjorn Karringer improved in his third round for the Saints scoring an even par 72. Anders Ekdahl shot a four-over 76 and Dustin Funari shot an eight-over 80 to finish out the Saints third round.

By Glenn Judah

After two rounds of play in the NAIA National Championship the No. 2-ranked Saints are still stuck in 24th place.

The team finished yesterday’s round with a 24-over par score of 312. This puts the Saints two-day total at 623. The team needs make up 16 strokes to improve to 17th place or better by the end of today’s round to make the final cut.

By Glenn Judah

The No. 18-ranked Flagler College men’s tennis team’s season ended in a loss Tuesday in the second round of the NAIA National Championships.

After defeating the No. 15-ranked Lee University in the first round 5-4, the Saints were then defeated by No. 2 Auburn-Montgomery, losing the match 6-0.

By Glenn Judah

The No. 2 ranked Saints found the first round of the NAIA National Championships to be a challenge Tuesday, shooting a 23 over par for a score of 311.

This puts the Saints in 24th place out of 28 teams. The Saints need to be in the top 17 to make the cut on Thursday to compete in the final day Friday. Right now the Saints are six shots out of the No. 17 spot.

By Glenn Judah

The No. 2 ranked NAIA Saints look to finish their best season ever as they begin play today in the NAIA National Championship in Olathe, Kan.

The Saints have finished in the top 10 the last two years at the Prairie Highlands course and are hoping to do even better this year. According to Don Robbins, Saints head coach, the team feels it has a real opportunity to win the championship.

‘Three-peat’ FSC Champs move on to national tournament in Kansas

By Glenn Judah
Photo contributed

PHOTO CAPTION: Showing off their hardware: Saints golfers captured a total of 11 honors over the weekend in Lake Wales, including the NAIA Region XIV Championship.

The seventh ranked Flagler College men’s golf team won the NAIA Region XIV tournament in Lake Wales.