Wednesday, May 19, 2021

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – A historic season for Saint Martin’s and senior Garrett Woodin of Montana State Billings came to an end on Wednesday at the PGA National Resort’s Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

The Saints shot 341 in the third and final round of stroke play to finish in 15th place at the NCAA Division II National Championships with a final score of 981. The 341 comes a day after their tournament-best 303 in the second round.

Junior Max Turnquist led the Saints at the National Championships, finishing in a six-way tie for 45th place with a score of 239 after carding 84 in the third round. Turnquist had three birdies and six pars on the day.

Senior Tyler Fitchett climbed 13 spots on the leaderboard after carding 6-over-par 78 on Wednesday. He birdied on the par-four second hole and the par-five 10th to finish in a five-way tie for 52nd place at 241. Fitchett was named the GNAC Player of the Year and became just the second player in Saints’ history to earn medalist honors at the GNAC Championships when he won the tournament in April.

Junior Dennis Geissler finished in a three-way tie for 61st at 245 while fellow junior Nick Baker placed 80th at 264. Junior Jordan Terada rounded out the Saints in a tie for 81st place at 265.

Saint Martin’s won its first-ever GNAC title to earn the conference’s automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division II West/South Central Regional. The Saints placed second at regionals to punch their tickets to Florida. It was their first trip to the National Championships since 2005.

Woodin became the first player in program history to compete at the NCAA National Championships on Monday. He moved up another seven spots in the third round after carding 6-over-par 78. Woodin finished his collegiate career in a five-way tie for 23rd place, leading the conference field with a final score of 233.

Keegan Bronnenberg of Indianapolis won the individual title by two strokes with a score of 4-over-par 220, fending off four players tied for second place at 6-over-par 222. The Greyhounds finished the third round in first place with an 18-stroke lead at 894.

The top-eight teams after the third round will advance to the NCAA Division II National Championships match play, which tees off on Thursday morning. Joining Indianapolis are Arkansas Tech, West Florida, Georgia Southwestern, Texas A&M-Commerce, Davis & Elkins, Central Missouri and Lee.