GOLDEN EAGLES GUYTON WIN NCAA EAST REGIONAL TITLE; QUALIFIES FOR NCAA’S
Clarion University sophomore golfer Matt Guyton (DuBois/DuBois Area) defeated Glenville State’s Tim Fisher on the first-playoff hole to win the individual NCAA Division II East Region championship Wednesday at Drumlins Golf Course in Syracuse, New York.
With the win, Guyton becomes the first Clarion golfer to advance to the NCAA tournament since Greg Spinetti finished tied for 17th in 1988.
"I am very excited for Matt," Clarion’s fourth year head coach Al Lefevre said. "He is a great young man who has worked extremely hard to get to this point."
Guyton fired a 2-over par 73 on the final day of the third day tournament and found himself in a tie with Fisher, who shot a final day 2-under par 69. Both golfers had a three-day total of 214.
On the first playoff hole, the par-5 No. 1, Fisher put his second shot about 30 feet above the pin, and Guyton left his right of the green. But Guyton’s third shot pitched to within one foot of the hole. Fisher then three-putted for par before Guyton tapped in his putt for the birdie and the win.
"Matt’s confidence is one of his greatest assets, and that came out on the playoff hole," Lefevre said. "He believes he can make every shot and every putt. That is the quality of a true champion."
Guyton’s three-day break down showed him shooting a 72 on the first day a shot of the leader, a 69 on the second day vaulting him into the lead and the 73 on the third day.
Guyton now advances to the NCAA Division II national championship being held May 20-23 at Crosswater Club at Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Oregon.
GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES: Spinetti was an honorable mention All-American in 1988 ... Prior to Spinetti, Joe Boros was a three-time All-American for the Golden Eagles from 1982-84 ... Boros was a first-team All-American in 1983 and a third-team All-American in 1982 and 1984 ... Joel Thompson was also an honorable mention All-American in 1982 for Clarion ... As a team, Clarion finished 8th at the East Regional with a team score of 922 ... Matt Gribshaw was tied for 30th with a 231, Lou Jesiolklewic was 40 with a 237, Ryan Peffer was 43rd with a 243 and Bob Chisholm was tied for 44th with a 250.