UAPB repeats as SWAC golf champs

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff won its second-straight Southwestern Athletic Conference men’s golf championship this week.

The Golden Lions finished first at the SWAC men’s championship at the Refuge Golf Course in Flowood, Miss., successfully defending its 2023 championship. This year’s tournament was played Monday through Wednesday.

UAPB finished +9 with a three-round total of 873, nine strokes better than second-place Florida A&M.

Alabama State finished third, Prairie View A&M fourth, Texas Southern fifth, Alabama A&M sixth and Southern seventh.

UAPB’s Jose Berenguel won the individual SWAC championship. He finished -4 and was the only golfer to finish under par. He shot a 71 Monday, a 68 Tuesday and a 73 Wednesday.

His second-round score was the second-best individual round played this week. Ignacio Puente of Alabama State shot a 66 in the first round. No other player shot a round below 70.

Rondarius Walters of Prairie View A&M claimed second place after finishing even. UAPB’s Ismael Garcia finished tied for fifth with Texas Southern’s Paul Kci Lindskog at +3.

UAPB’s championship team was rounded out by Jule De Reu, who finished tied for ninth, Timur Alalin, tied for 16th, and Angel Soria, tied for 18th. A total of 32 golfers completed the tournament.

The Golden Lions finished Monday’s first round in second place, three strokes behind Alabama State. The Hornets faded on day two, allowing UAPB to surge ahead to a 10-stroke lead entering Wednesday’s final round.

Florida A&M turned in a 284 in the final round to jump from fifth to second in the final standings, but UAPB’s lead held easily.

This is UAPB’s second championship after winning last year’s title by 29 strokes with a -2 finish. Garcia is the only Golden Lion who competed in both SWAC tournaments. He finished second last year at -1 behind UAPB’s Patrick Mwendapole.

UAPB had not won an SWAC championship prior to

these two titles won under coach Roger Totten’s direction.

Alabama State won the women’s title after finishing +79. The Lady Hornets entered Wednesday in second place but passed Bethune-Cookman. Reigning champs Texas Southern finished third, followed by Prairie View A&M in fourth. UAPB does not field a women’s team.

As SWAC champions, the Golden Lions will advance to the NCAA men’s golf tournament, which begins with regional tournaments next month.