Coastal Men's Golf Wins 2018 Sun Belt Golf Championship

2018 Sun Belt Match Play Results (Semifinal and Final)

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. - After winning the stroke-play portion of the 2018 Sun Belt Men's Golf Championship by 26 strokes the previous three days, Coastal Carolina continued its strong play Wednesday as it defeated South Alabama, 3-2, in the morning semifinal and turned around in the afternoon to defeat Georgia Southern, 4-1, in the final to be crowned Sun Belt Conference Champion at the Raven Golf Course at Sandestin.

First-year head coach Jim Garren earns the program's first conference team title in its second year in the Sun Belt, its 15th overall conference championship, and first since 2013. The Chanticleers also earn the league's automatic bid to an NCAA Regional. Along with the team win, Coastal completed the conference's sweep as Morgan Deneen won the Sun Belt Individual Championship with a conference championship score of 203.

In the championship match on Wednesday afternoon, Thadd Obecny II gave Coastal a 1-0 lead after winning his match 6 & 4. The senior tied the first hole, won the second and never looked back as he either won or tied the next 12 holes. He closed out his match over Archer Price on the 14th hole.

Daniel Overas, who was the third match off in the championship, also cruised to a victory, beating Jacob Bayer 6 & 4. Not only did Overas win his match by the same score as Obecny II, but he did so in the same fashion. Overas and Bayer tied on the first hole, Overas won the second hole and then won going away. Overas was up one through eight holes then won holes 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14 to close out the match on the 14th hole.

The fourth match off in the final would clinch the title as States Fort defeated Luukas Alakulppi 4 & 3. The pair were all square through nine holes before Fort won holes 10, 11, 12, and 14 to go up four holes. He and his partner both had a par on the 15th hole, which secured the win.

The matches with Luis Ruiz, who was down one with one to play, and Morgan Deneen, who was up two with four to play, were conceded once Fort clinched the third and deciding point.

In the Wednesday morning semifinal match, Coastal defeated South Alabama 3-2. The match was over after Fort closed out Brooks Rabren, 3 & 1, after 17 holes and Fort leading by three strokes. Obecny II, who was CCU's first golfer on the course, won the final hole to defeat Jason Mendel two-up. CCU's second point of the match came when Overas won the 16th hole to claim a 4 & 2 victory over Yannick Schuetz. Ruiz lost his match, 4 & 3, while Deneen conceded his match, down two with three to play, after the Chants secured their third point to wrap up the victory.

Also after the stroke play portion Tuesday, the Sun Belt handed out several academic awards. The Chanticleers were recognized for maintaining at least a 3.0 team GPA. Obecny II and Fort were named to the Sun Belt's Commissioner's Awards List for having at least a 3.5 GPA while Ruiz and Overas received Sun Belt Honor Roll recognition for having at least a 3.0 GPA.

The 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships selections will take place next Wednesday (May 2) at 6 pm on Golf Channel, during Golf Central, and streamed live on the Golf Channel website. There are six NCAA Men's Regional Championship sites, May 14-16 (13 teams and 10 individuals at three regionals and 14 teams and five individuals at three regionals). The six regional sites include will be played in Raleigh, N.C.; Bryan, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; Kissimmee, Fla.; Norman, Okla.; and Stockton, Calif.

SUN BELT MEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Raven Golf Club at Sandestin
Miramar Beach, Fla.

SEMIFINAL: Coastal Carolina defeated South Alabama, 3-2
Thadd Obecny II (CCU) defeated Jason Mendel (USA), 2 UP
Luis Ruiz (CCU) lost to Peter Staalbo (USA), 4 & 3
Daniel Overas (CCU) defeated Yannick Schuetz (USA), 4 & 2
States Fort (CCU) defeated Brooks Rabren (USA), 3 & 1
Morgan Deneen (CCU) lost to Rasmus Karlsson (USA), 2 & 3 (conceded)

FINAL: Coastal Carolina defeated Georgia Southern, 4-1
Thadd Obecny II (CCU) defeated Archer Price (GS), 6 & 4
Luis Ruiz (CCU) lost to Jake Storey (GS), 1 & 1 (conceded)
Daniel Overas (CCU) defeated Jacob Bayer (GS), 6 & 4
States Fort (CCU) defeated Luukas Alakulppi (GS), 4 & 3
Morgan Deneen (CCU) defeated Steven Fisk (GS), 2 & 4 (conceded)
 
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Coastal Rewind 
March 31, 2020: 2014 Big South Volleyball Championship
April 3, 2020: 2013 FCS Football Playoff Win at Montana
April 7, 2020: Coastal Football Beats Kansas for First-Ever Power 5 Win
April 10, 2020: Women's Basketball Defeats Troy in Shootout for First-Place
April 14, 2020: 2014 Big South Men's Basketball Championship Game
April 17, 2020: 2003 Men's Soccer Season
April 21, 2020: Women's Lacrosse Wins 2015 Big South Tournament Game Over Campbell
April 24, 2020: Coastal Baseball Walks-Off Clemson to Give Gilmore His 900th Win
April 28, 2020: Coastal Softball Advances to 2019 Sun Belt Championship Game
May 1, 2020: Women's Soccer Defeats Texas State to Advance in 2017 Sun Belt Championship
May 5, 2020: Volleyball Wins 2017 Sun Belt Championship
May 8, 2020: Football Comes-From-Behind to Beat Liberty in Double-Overtime (2013)
May 12, 2020: Women's Golf Wins the 2018 Sun Belt Championship
May 15, 2020: Men's Tennis Wins 2016 Big South Championship
May 19, 2020: Men's Soccer Defeats NC State in 2019 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship