Despite finishing tied for 28th at the conference tournament, freshman James Anstiss was named the Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year. 
Courtesy of Southland Conference

The Lions golf team capped off their season with a third place finish at the Southland Conference Tournament last week, finishing with a final team score of 919 (+55). Headlining the squad from Southeastern was senior Grady Brame and junior Lawrence Allan.

Sam Houston State exited the tournament champions of the Southland Conference with a final score of 881 (+17). Posting the best individual score of the tournament was JT Taylor of Sam Houston State, who carded a 213 (-3) to beat out the rest of the field. Despite finishing in the top-three, head coach Tim Baldwin felt the team could have played better.

In what proved to be a challenging course, only two competitors finished the tournament with a score under par. Weather delays on day two also hindered teams from teeing off on time.

“To be honest, I was disappointed. We had two guys play very well,” said Baldwin. “Conditions were tough. There was a lot of rain and wind. Unfortunately the team did not have a good week.”

In what may be his final appearance for the Lions, Brame carded a final score of 222 (+6). The Hammond native had a hot start to the tournament, ending day one by shooting one-under par with a 71. That hot start did not exactly carry on to the next rounds after Brame finished the second round with a 77 and finished the tournament with a final round score of 74. 

Brame’s performance garnered the senior a spot in fifth place to mark his final Southland Conference Tournament. The finish does not do justice to a career that featured selections to all-conference and all-Louisiana teams. Baldwin praised the senior for his longevity with the team. 

“He’s had a very good career with us. He’s one of the only guys in my 27 years here that has played in every tournament since his freshman year,” said Baldwin. 

Allan led the team with a final score of 319 (+3), finishing in a tie for third place in the individual standings. The Scottish native carded a 74, one-over par, in round one to finish the day in a tie for fourth place. Day two proved to be the Scott’s best round, finishing two-under par with a score of 70. Allan finished the tournament by carding a 74 in the final round. After finishing last on the team one year ago at the 2014 SLC Tournament, Baldwin noted the improvements Allan has made over the past year.

“Lawrence played especially well. He stuck it well; there were just a few key drives that if he would have got that, he could have won the championship. His putting is probably his single greatest growth this year,” said Baldwin.

Finishing third on the Lions squad was the newcomer of the team, sophomore James Anstiss. The New Zealand native played his way to a spot tied for 28th on the leaderboard after shooting 236 (+20) over the three rounds.

Next up on the Lions team to finish was sophomore Paul Obermann. After posting an 83 on day one of the tournament, the German native shot an 80 in the second and final rounds to finish with a final tally of 243 (+27). 

Rounding out the team was junior Eamon Bradley. For him, consistency was key, as he carded an 82 all three rounds to finish with a score of 246 (+30).

Southeastern entered the tournament ranked 50th in the nation and kept that ranking following the tournament. The team’s future will be decided May 2, when the field for the NCAA Regionals will be announced. Visit lionsports.net for more information.