Zech Earns Top 10 Finish At NCAA Golf Championship
5/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
May 26, 2014
NCAA Golf Results Round Three 
| Live Results
Ryan Zech (-3) fired a 2-under-par 68 to earn a Top 10 finish at the 2014 NCAA Men's Golf Championship on Monday, recording the top finish by a Tiger at the NCAA Championship since Rich Poe tied for fifth in 1963.
The junior from Kearney, Mo., (tied for ninth overall) had five birdies on Monday, including his third consecutive birdie on the par 4, 390-yard 18th hole. Zech finished the day four-under-par over his final 15 holes (following bogeys on the second and third holes), which included birdies on the fourth, seventh, 10th, 14th and 18th holes.
"I'm really proud of the way our guys went out and competed," Head Coach Mark Leroux said. "This was a great experience for our team, and both Ryan and Emilio showed they are capable of competing with the best players in the country. They are All-Americans. This will be a great springboard into next year."
Zech (70-69-68--207) was at or below par in all three rounds at the NCAA Championship and finished the year with three consecutive Top 20 placings in postseason play. He opened his impressive run with a tie for 19th at the SEC Championship and then finished 14th at last week's NCAA Columbia Regional. His Top 10 finish on Monday was his second of the year.
"Ryan has played outstanding golf all season," Leroux said. "These last few events he has played like a No. 1 and it should give him a lot of confidence heading into the summer and his senior year. The experience was also invaluable for guys like Wilson and Euan. Those three guys are coming back next year, and this experience will have them hungry as we compete to get back to the NCAA Finals again next year."
Emilio Cuartero (-2) also finished among the Top 20 overall, tying for 15th, one shot behind Zech. The senior from Lleida, Spain shot 69 on Monday, recording his ninth Top 20 performance of the season.
"Emilio has been one of the most consistent golfers in the country this year," Leroux said. "I'm really proud of him, proud of the way he finished out his career and appreciate all he and Hunter, our two co-captains, have done for the program."
With their Top 15 efforts both Zech and Cuartero earned All-America honors.
Missouri finished 20th overall at the Championship, topping 10 other nationally-ranked programs. The 20th-place finish equaled Missouri's effort at the 2005 NCAA Finals. The Top Eight teams advance to match play competition, which starts on Tuesday.
Euan Walker (+11) was the third scorer for Missouri on Monday shooting a 3-over-par 73, while Hunter Kraus (+17) and Wilson Sundvold (+21) finished the tournament with rounds of 77 and 79 respectively.
Georgia Tech's Ollie Schniederjans and Stanford's Cameron Wilson tied for first place in stroke play at 6-under 204. Wilson won on the third playoff hole to claim the individual title.
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