The Nicholls golf team recorded its first-ever tournament win in the Division I ranks Feb. 25 and 26 by shooting four over par at the Pizza Hut/BellSouth Classic at the Lake Caroline Country Club in Jackson, Miss. This was the Colonels highest finish in a Division I tournament since placing second at the Hal Sutton Invitational during the Fall season. Nicholls has been a member of Division I golf since 1981.
Colonel coach James Schilling said he felt his players deserved to pick up the victory after the work they have put in this season.
“The best thing about the win is that the players get to see the fruits of their labor,” Schilling said. “I’ve been pushing them harder than I ever had before, so now they know why we go at it so hard.”
The Colonels were led by the play of Chris Ohrn, who finished in a tie for second place after shooting 71 on both days. Ohrn finished the tournament two under par.
Ohrn was in contention for the top individual spot at the tournament, but faltered on the final hole and had to settle for second.
“Chris played well, but he was personally disappointed that he three-putted the last hole that cost him a shot at the playoff,” Schilling said. “But two under par is a solid score.”
Ohrn’s putt did hold off surging Lamar University to seal the Colonels tournament victory.
For his play, Ohrn was honored as the Southland Conference golfer of the week.
Nicholls also managed to place two other Colonels in the top ten.
Kevin Axford stroked a pair of 72’s to finish at even par for the tournament to go along with his fifth place finish.
Rod Lemoine placed seventh after improving on the second day of competition by firing a 72. Lemoine shot a 74 on the first day and ended up finishing two over.
Newcomer Billy Rase, a sophomore transfer from Lamar, was the fourth highest finishing Colonel, when he placed 16th during the tournament.
Rase compiled rounds of 71 and 77 to help the Colonels hold off his former team.
“Billy Rase was a good pickup at mid-semester,” Schilling said. “It’s good that we are going to have a player like that around for the next three years.”
Jacob Lipari rounded out the Colonel top five, by putting up rounds of 80 and 78 for a 41st place finish.
The Colonels next match will be in the Sport scare of Methodist Hospital Golf Classic in New Orleans, a place where Schilling will look for his team to continue its improved play.
“If we want to be in contention every week, we still need to work harder to bring down our scores,” Schilling said. “We know we’re a much better club than last year’s squad. Now we just have to play like it.”
