Cobras begin National Championship Quest on Tuesday

Coker, coming off runner-up finishes in both the South Atlantic Conference and South-Southeast Super Regional, is one of 12 teams in the field of 20 ranked in the top 25 nationally.

The tournament can be followed at www.golfstat.com.

"We are so excited to be representing Coker, Hartsville, our families, and the folks at the Hartsville Country Club at our National Championships," Coker head coach John Hackney said. "It has been 18 years since a Coker golf team made its lone appearance at the Finals, so we want to make the most of it. This team has shattered records throughout the season and we don't plan on stopping now."

The Cobras had the 36-hole lead at the SAC Championships before finishing behind No.2-ranked Lincoln Memorial. Coker finished behind only No. 1 North Georgia, who was playing its home course, in the NCAA Regional. That event included six of the top 10 teams in the country and 15 of the top 25.

Coker will be represented (as it has been all season) by the fivesome of super senior Killian Ryan (England), senior Caleb Tidd (Indiana), senior Jonathan Hallinger (Sweden), senior Aaron Teece (Texas), and junior Derek McGlaughlin (Pennsylvania). Tidd and Hallinger tied for medalist honors at SAC and then Tidd prevailed in a playoff. Last week at Regionals, Ryan, an individual regional participant last season, finished 4th of 108 players while Tidd was 7th and McGlaughlin 17th.

"We have the most veteran team in the country," Hackney said. "We started our season last fall in a tournament on the Crooked Cat course, and we played well. I told our guys then that my plan was for us to be back here in May to play for the National Championship, and here we are. Now, it's time for us to take care of business."

The Cobras, the second seed from the South-Southeast, will be paired with No. 6-ranked Oklahoma Christian and St. Thomas Aquinas in the opening two rounds. Coker's first tee time will be at 12:16 on Tuesday and 9:20 on Wednesday. Teams will be repaired for Thursday's last round of stroke play.

The NCAA individual medalist will be crowned after 54 holes while the 20 teams will be cut to eight, and those teams will engage in Medal Match Play for the Team National Championship on Friday (quarterfinals in the morning and semifinals in the afternoon) and Saturday (championship match at 9:30).

"I really love these guys," Hackney said. "They are super talented and have put in the work. If we just continue to be patient, have fun and trust our talent and preparation, some magical things can happen."