TEXARKANA, Arkansas - Charlotte won its second consecutive Conference USA championship on Thursday, defeating Louisiana Tech 3-2 in the match play final at Texarkana Country Club. The 49ers earn C-USA's automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Championships.
In a back-and-forth affair in the final, Charlotte eventually came out on top, clinching the conference crown on the 17th green, as
Ben Woodruff finished things off with a par. Roughly 10 minutes prior, Louisiana Tech stayed alive when Lake Juban won his match by virtue of a playoff hole (1), but ultimately it was the 49ers who raised the hardware.
Earlier in the day in the semifinals, Charlotte dispatched North Texas on the final hole of the morning, as
Carson Ownbey tapped in to send the 49ers to the final, following an equisite chip on 18. Ownbey finished 1 up on North Texas'
Vicente Marzilio, while Cody Winkler of the Mean Green had won his match via a playoff hole just minutes earlier to keep North Texas alive into the final match.
In the other semifinal, Louisiana Tech clinched its spot in the final in thrilling fashion, with
Thomas Henson forcing a playoff with a birdie on his final hole of the round (9). Henson then birdied the playoff hole (10) to put the Bulldogs into the final round against Charlotte.
The 2023 NCAA DI Men’s Golf Selection Show will be on GOLF Channel on Wednesday, May 3, at 12 p.m. CT.
Match Play Final Results
Charlotte 3, Louisiana Tech 2
Lake Juban, Louisiana Tech 1 Up (19 holes) over Dongjin Park, Charlotte
Conor Gough, Charlotte 2&1 over Thomas Henson, Louisiana Tech
Ben Woodruff, Charlotte 2&1 over Hunter Battles, Louisiana Tech
James Swash, Louisiana Tech 2&1 over Caden Baker, Charlotte
Carson Ownbey, Charlotte 6&5 over Will Patrick, Louisiana Tech
Match Play Semifinal Results
Charlotte 3, North Texas 2
Dongjin Park, Charlotte 1 Up over Diego Prone, North Texas
Tucker Allen, North Texas 5&3 over Conor Gough, Charlotte
Ben Woodruff, Charlotte 4&3 over Lenny Bergsson, North Texas
Cody Winkler, North Texas 1 Up (19 holes) over Caden Baker, Charlotte
Carson Ownbey, Charlotte 1 Up over Vicente Marzilio, North Texas
Louisiana Tech 3, Middle Tennessee 2
Lake Juban, Louisiana Tech 2&1 over Kevin Jegers, Middle Tennessee
Thomas Henson, Louisiana Tech 1 Up (19 holes) over Carter Maneth, Middle Tennessee
Michael Barnard, Middle Tennessee 4&2 over Hunter Battles, Louisiana Tech
James Swash, Louisiana Tech 5&3 over Gavin Clements, Middle Tennessee
Owen Stamper, Middle Tennessee 3&2 over Will Patrick, Louisiana Tech
Stroke Play Team Results
Individual Champion - James Swash, Louisiana Tech (-2)
Stroke Play Individual Results