TEXARKANA, Arkansas – Liberty won the 2024 Conference USA Championship on Thursday, defeating UTEP 3-2 in a thrilling match play final that came down to a five-hole playoff win by Josh Ryan from Texarkana Country Club. The Flames earn CUSA’s automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Championships.
Two of the five matches went to playoffs, including Ryan’s epic battle with UTEP’s Dylan Teeter. Ryan tied things on No. 18, and the two dueled, trading massive shot after massive shot all the way to playoff hole No. 5. Ryan’s approach was just a couple feet from the pin, and Teeter was unable to sink a long putt to extend the match. UTEP’s Sebastian Sandin won the other playoff on the first hole to beat Austin Barbin narrowly with a par on his 19th hole of the round.
Isaac Simmons held off UTEP’s Greg Holmes, winning the match one up, while Liberty’s Ike Joy won 3&2 over Patrick Foley. UTEP’s Jacob Presutti helped keep things alive for the Miners, finishing one up over Brett Reid.
Earlier in the day in the semifinals, third-seeded Liberty dispatched Sam Houston 3-1-1 to clinch a spot in the final. In the other semifinal, fourth-seeded UTEP punched its ticket to the final when Foley picked up the win on a second playoff hole (on No. 2) with a par to narrowly defeat LA Tech’s Thomas Henson.
The 2023 NCAA DI Men’s Golf Selection Show will be on GOLF Channel on Wednesday, May 1, at 1 p.m. CT.
Match Play Final Results
(3) Liberty 3, (4) UTEP 2
Josh Ryan, Liberty 1 up over Dylan Teeter, UTEP (23 holes)
Sebastian Sandin, UTEP 1 up over Austin Barbin, Liberty (19 holes)
Isaac Simmons, Liberty 1 up over Greg Holmes, UTEP
Jacob Presutti, UTEP 1 up over Brett Reid, Liberty
Ike Joy, Liberty 3&2 over Patrick Foley, UTEP
Match Play Semifinal Results
(4) UTEP 3, (1) LA Tech 2
Dylan Teeter, UTEP 2&1 over Lake Juban, LA Tech
Jacob Presutti, UTEP 2&1 over Hunter Battles, LA Tech
Patrick Foley, UTEP 1 up over Thomas Henson, LA Tech (20 holes)
Will Patrick, LA Tech 6&4 over Greg Holmes, UTEP
Niilo Maki-Petaja, LA Tech 5&4 over Sebastian Sandin, UTEP
(3) Liberty 3, (2) Sam Houston 1, 1 tie
Ting-Wei Hsieh, Sam Houston tied Austin Barbin, Liberty
Ike Joy, Liberty 3&2 over Bret Gray, Sam Houston
Isaac Simmons, Liberty 2&1 over Gene Chaikangwal, Sam Houston
Josh Ryan, Liberty 2&1 over Josh German, Sam Houston
Hugo Trommetter, Sam Houston 4&3 over Brett Reid
Stroke Play Team Results (April 22-24)
Individual Champion – Luke Fuller, WKU (-7)
Stroke Play Individual Results