Tuesday, October 11th, 2005
Stephen Giddens Ties For Medalist Honors At NCCAA National Championship
The Piedmont College men’s golf team posted its best-ever National Christian College Athletic Association National Championship result at the Lions finished 8th out of 24 schools in the 36-hole championship which wrapped up this afternoon at River Greens Golf Course in West Lafayette, OH. Piedmont's Stephen Giddens tied for medalist honors in the 130-player field before losing the individual national championship in a sudden-death playoff with Indiana Wesleyan's Andy Varner.
The top-10 finish is the second consecutive for the Lions after finishing 11th in 2003 and 9th in 2004. The tournament field represented 24 schools covering 16 states. For finishing in a tie for first Giddens was honored as a NCCAA All-American. Teammate Matt Howell birdied his final two holes to join Giddens on the All-American team by virtue of earning a top-10 finish.
The Lions opened the tournament on Monday with a team score of 305 and stood in a tie for seventh place at the midway point. Piedmont responded on the final day by improving their team score four strokes to 301 marking the second best team round of the fall season.
The team posted the record finish despite fielding only four players in the tournament. Giddens (71-71--142) and Howell (75-73--148) led the way followed by solid play from Andy Cartwright (77-79--156) and Matt Goodall (82-78--160).Piedmont will return to action next semester when the Lions kick off their spring schedule by taking part in the Callaway Collegiate Invitational at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA on March 6-7.
2005 National Christian College Athletic Association National Championship
River Greens Golf Course - West Lafayette, OH
Par 72 - 6,678 Yards
Team Finishes Score Piedmont Score 1. Indiana Wesleyan (IN) 298-292--590 Stephen Giddens 71-71--142 t2. Northland Baptist Bible (WI) 304-296-600 Matt Howell 75-73--148 t2. Southeastern (FL) 296-304--600 Andy Cartwright 77-79--156 t2. North Greenville (SC) 298-302--600 Matt Goodall 82-78--160 5. Bethel (IN) 302-300--602 t6. Malone (OH) 308-297--605 t6. Southern Wesleyan (SC) 306-299--605 8. Piedmont (GA) 305-301--606 9. Cedarville (OH) 304-306--610 10. Spring Arbor (MI) 305-307--612 11. York (NE) 306-308--614 12. Mt. Vernon Nazerene (OH) 320-303--623 13. Faulkner (AL) 314-320--634 14. Central Christian (KS) 325-314--639 15. Oklahoma Wesleyan (OK) 335-318--653 16. Olivet Nazarene (IL) 327-327--654 17. Clearwater Christian 329-328--657 t18. Northwestern (MN) 339-320--659 t18. Central Baptist (AR) 336-323--659 20. Mid-American Christian (OK) 340-333-673 21. Southwestern (OK) 340-337--677 22. Atlanta Christian (GA) 349-334--683 23. Toccoa Falls (GA) 357-344--711 24. Philadelphia Bible (PA) 465-369--734