SOUTHPORT, North Carolina – UNCW junior Payne McLeod captured his first Colonial Athletic Association tournament championship and the Seahawks earned their third straight conference title with a 24-stroke win on Sunday at The Reserve Club at St. James Plantation.
The Seahawks will learn of their destination on May 6 during the NCAA Selection Show. The announcement will be made at NCAA.com at 9 p.m. The following six sites will host regionals on May 16-18: University Club, Baton Rouge, La.; Golden Eagle Country Club (Tallahassee, Fla.); Scarlet Course (Columbus, Ohio); The Blessings Golf Course (Fayetteville, Ark.); Palouse Ridge Golf Club (Pullman, Wash.) and Karsten Golf Course (Tempe, Ariz.)
McLeod, who collected his second career tournament victory, posted a four-stroke win over Alex Hicks of William & Mary.
The Seahawks placed four golfers in the final top 10. Junior Josh Woodfox placed fourth while senior Thomas Bass and red-shirt junior Stefan Brewer tied for seventh.
McLeod also became UNCW’s fifth CAA tournament champion, joining previous winners Josh Brock (2011), Brian Joyce (2006), Travis Bland (1998) and Chris Buffaloe (1993).
For the Seahawks, who will be making their fourth straight trip to the NCAA tournament, it was their fifth overall conference title.
Notes: Payne McLeod’s three-round total of 215 tied for sixth lowest in program history at the CAA Championship … UNCW’s three-year winning streak is the longest since VCU’s dominant run of seven consecutive titles from 199 through 2002 … UNCW head coach now has won the CAA championship five times, including twice at Georgia State (2006, 2008) … The Seahawks have finished first or second on 12 occasions.
UNCW Scores: 1. Payne McLeod 73-67-75=215; 4. Josh Woodfox 79-67-75=221; T7. Thomas Bass 79-74-74=227; T7. Stefan Brewer 76-75-76=227; 24. Ryan Nagy 77-81-79=237
Medalist standings: 1. Payne McLeod (UNCW) 73-67-75=215; 2. Alex Hicks (W&M) 71-73-75=219; 3. Jeremy Wells (W&M) 74-75-71=220; 4. Josh Woodfox (UNCW) 79-67-75=221; T5. Rich Leeper (JMU) 75-73-76=224; T5. Brandon Shinn (HU) 81-72-71=224; T7. Thomas Bass (UNCW) 79-74-74=227; T7. Stefan Brewer (UNCW) 76-7576-224; T7. Ryan Vince (JMU) 74-74-79=224; T10. James Braunsberg (Drexel) 71-76-81=228; T10. Ben Conroy (Delaware) 76-80-72=228
Team Standings: 1. UNCW 305-283-300=888; 2. James Madison 306-297-309=912; 3. William & Mary 304-306-306=916; 4. Drexel 303-311-309=923; 5. Delaware 309-311-305=925; 6. Towson 317-299-313=929; 7. Hofstra 332-316-315=963
