DEARBORN, MICH. - Senior Joel Sylven of the University of Missouri-St. Louis men's golf team was crowned the NCAA DII individual national champion on Wednesday after defeating conference foe Keegan Bronnenberg of Indianapolis in a sudden-death playoff.
"I am so happy for Joel," said head coach Troy Halterman. "He has worked so hard and played some amazing golf in his career, but the last two days, in some very tough conditions, he has played his best. All 18 holes today was in rain, and the last nine was in a steady downpour. Him and Tony (teammate Juan Antonio Padilla) breaking par - that was amazing."
Sylven and Bronnenberg both finished stroke play with a 54-hole score of 214. The duo headed to the first tee box to determine the individual champion, where Sylven would birdie the hole while Bronnenberg parred.
"It feels really good to win the title. It's been a long three days with some different weather," said Sylven. "When I finished today, I knew my score was good. The back nine was playing hard, but you never know what the rest of the guys will do. I just had to make sure I would be ready for a playoff if need be."
Sylven said he had some nerves on the tee box during the playoff hole, but that he hit a great drive down the fairway. He then had a good number to the pin and hit it to oe of the few good spots on the green before sinking the putt.
And after winning, it was pure happiness.
"It was also sort of a relief of all the pressure you feel. But I also walked off knowing there's more golf to play since we advanced as a team and I'm excited to get back out there tomorrow."
Sylven finished with rounds of 74-70-70. With UMSL teeing off in the morning wave, Sylven was forced to sit and watch during the afternoon. Broonenberg took a one stroke lead in the 18th, but bogeyed the par four hole.
"The playoff was tough since we had been done for several hours," said Halterman. "We sent him to the range about 20 minutes before last group finished in case he needed a playoff. So he was warmed up but that first tee shot is tough and he bombed it. Then hit his wedge to about 18 feet. It was almost dark and the putt was perfect and found the bottom of the hole."
Sylven's national championship is the first by an individual in school history. The 1973 men's soccer team is the only other national champion at UMSL.
The individual title was Sylven's fourth of the season, a new single season record, and the seventh of his career.
The national championship also netted Sylven Division II PING First Team All-America honors. He earns All-America status for the third time in his career, being named to the third team in 2019 and honorable mention honors in 2020.
As a team, the Tritons fought their way into the top eight to advance to tomorrow's medal/match play quarterfinals. UMSL recorded for the day's lowest round with a 293 and made a jump in the team standings after entering the day in 11th place. The Tritons finished stroke play with an 895 (304-298-293).
"We knew starting the day we had a lot of work to do," Halterman said. "Our goal was to try and shoot the lowest round today and we did that. We also knew it was going to rain all day and so it would be tough, but the kids stayed focused and just grinded through the tough conditions. I'm very happy for this group of guys. Its always a goal to make it here, but so tough to do it."
Junior Juan Antonio Padilla turned in a one-under par 71 in his final round to finish in a tie for 15th place with a 222 (78-73-71), which earns him honorable mention All-America honors.
UMSL will be the No. 5 seed and will face No. 4 seed Oklahoma Christian beginning at 8:20 a.m. (EST). The semifinals will be played tomorrow afternoon, following the conclusion of the four quarterfinals, while the championship will be played on Friday.
UMSL Scores
1. Joel Sylven (74-70- 70 - 214)
T15. Juan Antonio Padilla (78-73-71 - 222)
T41. Reilly Ahearn (74-78-76 - 228)
T78. Nick Hedberg (78-80-77 - 235)
T81. Ian McCrary (83-77-76 - 236)
