Bulldogs Fall to Miners in Match Play

Thursday, April 25

Texarkana, AR

8 a.m.

Louisiana Tech University

UTEP (Semifinals)

Bulldogs fall to Miners in Match Play semifinals

Photo by: Kane McGuire

Bulldogs Fall to Miners in Match Play

4/25/2024 7:30:00 PM | Men's Golf

Match Play Results Photo Gallery

LA Tech lost to UTEP, 2-3, in the semifinals

By: Kane McGuire

TEXARKANA, Ark. – Louisiana Tech's run at the Conference USA Men's Golf Championship came to an end on Thursday, falling to UTEP by a score of 2-3 in the semifinals of match play at the Texarkana Country Club.

After earning the No. 1 seed with the top 54-hole score from stroke play, LA Tech drew No. 4 seed UTEP with a quest to make the match play finals for a second straight season.

And for a second straight season, Lake Juban led off for the Bulldogs and got off to a hot start by winning two of the first three holes to quickly go two up. The fifth-year senior would end up tied through the front nine but then lost holes 10, 14, and 15 to fall three down and ultimately fall to Dylan Teeter, 2-and-1.

The Bulldogs tied things up at 1-1 soon thereafter from the fourth matchup where Will Patrick cruised to a 6-and-4 victory over Greg Holmes. The senior birdied the Par 5 No. 2 to take a one up lead early and kept his foot on the gas, going three up through the front nine.

Patrick nearly eagled the Par 5 No. 12, hitting the pin on his wedge shot. A tap-in birdie put him four up and another win on hole 14 sealed the deal.

Niilo Maki-Petaja had similar success, defeating his opponent Sebastian Sandin on No. 14 as well with a 5-and-4 victory. After being just one up through nine holes, the freshman won four of the next five holes to give LA Tech a 2-1 advantage.

The Miners would tie it up though when Jacob Presutti best Hunter Battles, 2-and-1. Presutti chipped in for eagle on the Par 5 No. 16 to go two up over the Bulldog. Battles had a birdie putt on the short Par 4 No. 17 to try to keep the match going but was not able to sink it.

That brought the deciding match down to LA Tech's Thomas Henson and UTEP's Patrick Foley. Henson was very familiar with this situation, having been the deciding match in last year's semifinal.

The matchup was neck-and-neck for the entire round as there was only more than a one-up lead on one hole. Henson maintained a narrow one-up lead going to No. 17, but the Miners would tie it up with a birdie.

Both players made par on No. 18, sending the match into a playoff. After both made par again on No. 1, Henson's approach shot on the Par 5 No. 2 flew the green. The Bulldog was able to get up-and-down for par, but Foley two-putted for birdie to send UTEP into the finals where they would fall to No. 3 seed Liberty.

Despite the loss, LA Tech was actually on pace for its best round of the CUSA Championship with several players under par.

FOLLOW US
For all the latest in Bulldog Golf, follow us on Twitter (@LATechGolf), Instagram (@LATech_Golf), and Facebook (LATechGolf).