EL DORADO, Ark. – Advancing to its first match play championship in program history, Little Rock earned its first match play victory, besting ULM in the semifinals, before dropping a hard-fought match to top-seeded Georgia Southern in the championship.
The Trojans were the number two seed entering match play following its finish in the 54-hole stroke play event and were paired with third-seeded ULM. Top-seeded Georgia Southern squared off with number four seed Coastal Carolina.
Little Rock advanced to the championship match for the first time in program history with a 3-1-1 decision over third-seeded ULM in the semifinals.
Anton Albers tallied a 3&2 victory over Guillaume Fanonnel, rallying from 2-under after 10 holes to win five of the next six to vault into the lead and claim the decision.
Logan Pate went 2&1 over Andoni Etchenique, starting out strong by going 3-up after six holes, then fighting off a ULM surge after the match was tied after 14 holes. Pate won the sixth to go one up, then hit a five foot putt on eight which would clinch the match for the Trojans.
The other victory for the Trojans was tallied by
Nico Horder, who never trailed in his match with Otto Van Buynder. Horder went 1-up after the first hole and led by as many as four after 14 holes, closing out the third win for Little Rock with a 3&2 victory.
Marcel Rauch finished even with Mikkel Schmitt, pulling even with a victory on hole six and conceding the final two holes after the Trojans clinched the match.
Magnus Lomholt fell to Melan Dhaubhadel 3&2.
Facing top-seeded Georgia Southern, Little Rock fell behind the Eagles over the front nine, but had a pair of pairings that were able to fight back. Down two with two holes to go,
Logan Pate won holes 17 and 18, pulling even to complete 18 holes.
Magnus Lomholt was one up through 16 when the match play was clinched by the Eagles as
Nico Horder fell 2&1,
Anton Albers dropped a 4&3 decision and
Marcel Rauch fell 5&4.
It brings to a close a memorable season for Little Rock, which saw tournament championships, school records and numerous individual records.
2021 Sun Belt Match Play Results
Semifinals – Little Rock Wins, 3-1-1
Anton Albers (LR) def. Guillame Fanonnel (ULM), 3&2
Logan Pate (LR) def. Andoni Etchenique (ULM), 2&1
Marcel Rauch (LR) vs. Mikkel Schmitt (ULM), Tied
Nico Horder (LR) def. Otto Van Buynder (ULM), 3&2
Melan Dhaubhadel (ULM) def.
Magnus Lomholt (LR), 3&2
Championship – Georgia Southern Wins, 3-1-1
Logan Pate (LR) vs. Brett Barron (GASO), tied
Mason Williams (GASO) def.
Nico Horder (LR), 2&1
Magnus Lomholt (LR) def. Luke Dasher (GASO), 1 up (16)
Jake Maples (GASO) def.
Anton Albers (LR), 4&3
Ben Carr (GASO) def.
Marcel Rauch (LR), 5&4
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