WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – After a thrilling comeback saw the No. 1 University of North Georgia men's golf team launch itself into the eight-team medal match play bracket at the 2024 NCAA Men's Golf National Championship, the Nighthawks took advantage of the performance from yesterday by dominating No. 20 Coker in their first medal match of the tournament.
UNG took an early lead and never looked back, winning 4-1 against the Cobras to clinch their spot in the National Semifinals.
The day got started as junior Hughes Threlkeld took an early lead in th4 first match of the day for the Nighthawks.
After roaring to life on the final three hotels of the tournament yesterday, Threlkeld kept that momentum with an eagle at the par-5 14th and a birdie at the par-3 15th to take a four-shot lead.
With a birdie after the turn on the par-5 first hole, Threlkeld put himself in the driver's seat as he took a commanding six-shot lead into the heart of the back nine.
Behind Threlkeld, fellow junior Myles Jones was in a heated battle with Coker's Derek McGlaughlin.
McGlaughlin took a lead at 14 with an eagle on the par-5 and held the advantage until after making the turn. On the tee box at hole 2, Jones faced a two-shot deficit with eight holes to play.
The absolute turning point in the match ensued. From 181 yards after what spectators called a "decent" drive, Jones drew a 7-iron out of his bag for his approach shot. A difficult, 485-yard par-4, the second hole at Organ County National had already posed a difficult test for a number of UNG golfers this week.
In a miraculous effort, Jones striped his approach shot. It stuck right near the pin and began tracking. A roar unlike any other could be heard all around the front nine. Jones dunked it.
From 181-yards, Jones' eagle catapulted him to a one shot lead in the match. On the next hole, Jones dropped in a par while McGlaughlin struggled. An errant slice led to forcing the Cobra golfer to take a penalty drop. Another shot missed. Before anyone could really comprehend what had happened on the previous hole, McGlaughlin carded a seven on two, Jones put down a four and suddenly he had secured a four-shot lead heading into the third hole.
Jones was able to outlast McGlaughlin during the final six holes and come away with a two-shot victory. In the clubhouse stood two UNG golfers, both victorious in their matches.
The Nighthawks needed just one more win to clinch the overall match against Coker and book a spot in the National Semifinals.
The good news for UNG, Jack Vajda was hot on the tail of Threlkeld and Jones. After a par on the shot, par-3 sixth hole. Vajda teed off on 7 with a five shot lead. Despite a bogey at 7, Vajda had built a wide enough lead to withstand a surge from Aaron Teece.
He recorded a four at the par-4 ninth hole and with his teammates watching from the side, secured the match win and pushed the Nighthawks into the next round.
For good measure, UNG senior Noah Zediker closed things out with a two-stroke victory over Coker's All-South Atlantic Conference Second Team Selection Jonathan Hallinger.
In the 90 medal match holes played against the Cobras on Friday morning, the Nighthawks trailed Coker in just 22 holes in total. They won four of the five matches and will now face eighth-seeded West Texas A&M in the National Semifinals.
WT took down top-seeded and No. 9 West Florida by virtue of a tiebreaker just minutes before UNG finished its matches. The Nighthawks and Buffaloes will tee off for the final 36 holes of the day at 2:30 p.m. The matchups are as follows:
2:40 p.m. – Hughes Threlkeld vs. Jose De La Concepcion
2:50 p.m. – Myles Jones vs. Pablo Rebolleda
3:00 p.m. – Jack Vajda vs. Luis Palomo
3:10 p.m. – Noah Zediker vs. Santiago Caride
3:20 p.m. – Will Chambless vs. Wyatt Provence
