Steyn, Jaguars both finish tied for third at the Southland Conference Championship in O’Keefe’s last run

By Chris Rickerson | Sports editor 

Augusta University men’s golf team finished tied for third in the Southland Conference championship on Wednesday, April 27, at Stonebridge Ranch Country Club in McKinney, Texas.

The Jaguars finished tied for third with the University of New Orleans at 41-over-par.

“We were disappointed that we didn’t win but we played poorly the last three holes on Tuesday and Wednesday and that was the difference,” said AU Coach Jack O’Keefe. “We just gave away too many shots at the end of the round the last two days.”

AU’s Gareth Steyn, who was tied for the lead after round one, finished tied for third place for the tournament. He shot his best in the final round with a 2-under-par 70. Steyn struggle came in round No. 2, when he shot a 5-over-par 77.

“Gareth played superbly in the final round and carried us,” O’Keefe said. “Too bad he didn’t get the win today. He played very well and it is exciting that he is a freshman. He can build off of this.”

Hampus Wijkstrom finished tied for 11th for the Jaguars, shooting 9 over par for the tournament.

AU brothers CJ and Alex van Wyk both finished tied for 20th, shooting 17 over par.

Jack Vajda rounded out the Jaguars, finishing 32nd and shooting 2 over par for the tournament.

Southeastern Louisiana won the tournament at 28 over par, earning an automatic berth into the NCAA Division I regionals on May 16-18.

Joe Buenfeld of Incarnate Word won the individual title, finishing at even-par and also will earn automatic berth into the regional.

As for the Jaguars, there 2022 season comes to an end. It also marks the end O’Keefe’s nine-year tenure at the university. He will go into banking in Memphis, Tenn., after this academic year ends. He will be having a final golf camp in June.

“It has been a great ride and I will miss it. I wish the guys all the best moving forward,” O’Keefe said.

A new head coach has not been announced yet for the Jaguars, but they did just hire 2018 national champion Broc Everett as their assistant coach.

Meanwhile, the AU women’s golf team found out that it will play at the Legends Club in the Franklin, Tenn., regional in the NCAA Division I tournament.

The regional is hosted by Vanderbilt. Other teams making the Franklin regional are Wake Forest, Duke, Alabama, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Oregon State, BYU, Kent State, Texas at San Antonio, Austin Peay and Boston University.

Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.