IU East's Pearson competing in NAIA Men's Golf National Championship as RSC medalist
IU East's Pearson competing in NAIA Men's Golf National Championship as RSC medalist
By IU East Sports Information
Recent Indiana University East graduate Tyler Pearson concludes his Red Wolf career at the NAIA Men's Golf National Championships starting May 21 in Mesa, Ariz. The four-day, 72-hole event will be played at Las Sendas Golf Club.
Pearson tees off from No. 10 in the last of the afternoon pairings on May 21. The starts play from No. 1 in the last of the morning groups on May 22.
The field will be cut to the top 17 teams and top 40 individuals (including ties) for the final two rounds.
LAST TIME OUT
Pearson qualified for the national tournament with a first-place finish at the River States Conference Championships, held April 15 and 16 in Florence, Ind. Pearson posted a 54-hole score of 218 to win the tournament by two strokes.
Pearson is the first IU East men's golfer to qualify for the national tournament since Joey Smart in 2014.
IU EAST STORYLINES
* Pearson is one of six individual qualifiers in the 156-player field.
* Pearson enters the national tournament with an 18-hole spring average of 74.56
* Pearson has been at his best in the biggest events this year. His individual victories this season include a triumph against a national-caliber field at the NAIA Memphis Shootout in September and his win at the conference tournament.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
Las Sendas Golf Club is hosting the NAIA Men's Golf National Championships for the first time. The national tournament is in Arizona for the first time since 1985.
Oklahoma City University is the reigning national champion. The College of Coastal Georgia is the No. 1 team in the NAIA Men's Golf Coaches Poll. Coastal Georgia's Mark Johnson, who finished third at the national tournament last season, is the top returnee from the 2018 event.
FOLLOW THE TOURNAMENT
Las Sendas Golf Club is located at 7555 East Eagle Crest Drive in Mesa, Ariz.
Live stats and a daily video recap are scheduled to be available.
Monitor iueredwolves.com for daily recaps and results.