Colorado University Athletics
Carroll Just Misses NCAA Finals
May 17, 2003 | Men's Golf
MANHATTAN, Kan. - University of Colorado senior Stephen Carroll was the epitome of consistency here this week, scoring par or better on 51 of 54 holes in the NCAA Central Regional. But in the end, he was just a few putts shy of advancing out of the regional and into the NCAA Championship Finals.
Not that he blamed his putter, as Carroll negotiated a tough layout just about as well as anybody did (Kansas State University's Colbert Hills Golf Course played to 7,525 yards and par-72). But especially in the final round, when he scored 16 pars as he did in round one, he was knocking on the door for birdies all day but could only get one to drop. He shot a 72 to close with a 215 (1-under) total, tying for 20th place.
How good was his 72-71-72 effort? He was one of just nine golfers in the field (141 total players) to shoot par or better all three rounds. He was 44th after the first round and zoomed to 16th place after 36 holes. At one point in the final round, he was tied for second out of all the individuals not attached to teams heading to the NCAA finals, key because only two would advance. But six players passed him once he was done, eventually finishing five strokes off the pace and as the eighth individual in the race for the top two solo spots.
"Steve had another really solid round, just consistent play but nothing spectacular," CU head coach Mark Simpson said. "He had several good birdie opportunities, but only got one to drop, but he did have 16 pars. His ball striking was really solid, and he hit almost every green. But every putt was in the 10-to-15 foot range, and he just couldn't get those to drop. Overall, he had a very solid tournament on a tough golf course; to score 46 pars on 54 holes, that's a lot of pars. It was very consistent play on a pretty tough test of golf."
"I told him he played solid the last three tournaments, especially here," he added. "He had total control over his game, which is challenging. He'll improve his district ranking, and depending how high he is ranked, he has an outside shot at honorable mention All-America honors."
Carroll recorded five birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey to go with those pars, and cited his patience in keeping focused despite not getting many putts to fall. He started on No. 10 Saturday, recording pars on his first 10 holes before making birdie on No. 2; he bogeyed the par-5 No. 7 when he two putter after missing the green in regulation.
"I hit the ball very well, but I didn't hole many putts," Carroll said. "It was that kind of week where being patient was the key, and not losing my focus. I was happy I was able to do that. But it was definitely a little frustrating, but you have the mind set that you know that your next putt might be closer. So it was important not to be impatient. It comes with experience; you know if you lose control mentally you're probably headed for trouble. I just needed a couple of putts to fall here or there (to advance to the finals).
"It was a good year, just a pity we couldn't have an attempt to play as a team in the NCAA's, but it was nice to make it as an individual," Carroll continued. "I'm happy with the way the way I ended my career, and I've really enjoyed my time at CU and in Colorado. I had very high expectations when I came here, and didn't fulfill them throughout the first two-and-a-half years of my career. But I improved a lot in the last 18 months, and I'm happy with where my game is right now. I'm thinking of giving it a try as a professional; the last three tournaments have given me a good feeling, so I'll have to see."
The Buffalo captain competed here as an individual, one of six from schools that didn't have their full team invited (CU wasn't invited as a team for the first time since 1998). Carroll has no plans to turn pro at this time, but will return home to his native Australia in about a month. He finished his career with a 74.02 stroke average, eighth best in CU history, and his 111 career rounds tied for the 11th most by a Buff. His 73.44 average this past year was the 11th best figure to lead the team.
The top 10 teams out of the 27 competing here advance to the NCAA Finals later this month (May 27-30 in Stillwater, Okla.). Oklahoma State prepped for hosting the national meet by winning with an 856 score, topping day one and two leader Illinois by five strokes. Also qualifying, in order, were N. C. State, North Carolina, Texas, Kentucky, SMU, Minnesota, Arkansas and Wichita State.
Houston's Brett Callas claimed medalist honors, as he recorded a 67 Saturday for a 9-under par total of 207, which was good for a one shot win over Illinois' Patrick Neagle. Callas was also playing as an individual and thus took the first of two spots available to players from non-advancing teams; Lamar's Chris Stroud snared the other, finishing with a 70 for a 6-under 210.
"Certainly from an all-around standpoint, Steve did a great job this year being the leader and captain of our team," Simpson said of his lone active senior on a nine-man team that featured six true freshmen. "He showed a lot of character, playing the golf he did, and that says a lot. Freshmen are impressionable, and they picked up on a lot things Steve did, the way he conducted himself. They may not realize, at least yet, just what they've learned from watching and playing with Steve."
