Colorado School of Mines senior Jim Knous came ever so close to finishing his college career with four straight victories and an NCAA Division II title.
Knous led the NCAA Division II Championship Finals for most of Thursday’s final round of stroke play in Louisville, Ky.
But Josh Creel of Central Oklahoma birdied two of his last three holes in regulation to tie Knous, then won their playoff with a par on the first extra hole.
So Knous, a product of Basalt High School, had to settle for second place in the nation’s Division II ranks as his college career came to a close.
Knous finished the season with five individual victories, including three in a row heading into the national tournament.
In the NCAA finals, Knous shot a 3-under-par 69 on Thursday to move into the lead. With most of his competition playing in the afternoon, Knous went off early and posted his four-birdie, one-bogey round.
By the time he finished, he held the outright lead, and it took a late rally by Creel to catch up. Creel birdied Nos. 16 and 17 and parred 18 to shoot 71 and tie Knous, forcing the playoff.
Knous, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year, ended up at 10-under-par 206.
Knous is perhaps best known for a couple of stellar rounds he posted in finishing second in the 2010 CGA Stroke Play Championship, and in being the medalist in last year’s U.S. Amateur qualifying in Aurora. Knous shot a 10-under-par 60 in the final round of the Stroke Play, and a 9-under-par 63 at Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club. In both cases, he set the course record by two shots.
While Knous took second place individually on Thursday, his School of Mines team failed to advance to the match play portion of the Division II finals. Needing to finish in the top eight in stroke play to earn a spot in the quarterfinals, the Orediggers tied for 11th, with an 882 total for three rounds.
It was necessary to shoot 873 or lower to advance.
Meanwhile, at the women’s NCAA Division II Championship Finals, also in Louisville, Colorado Mesa moved up to 11th place in the 12-team field. Jessica Berve is leading the way for Mesa individually as she stands in 41st place at 168 for two rounds.
11. Colorado School of Mines 293-291-298–882
2 (playoff). Jim Knous 70-67-69–206; 45. Michael Lee 72-74-76–222; 67. Jordan Arndt 77-73-76–226; 79. Cory Bacon 75-77-77–229; 97. Kyle Grassel 76-84-77–237.
Women’s NCAA Div. II Championship Finals
May 16-19, 2012 in Louisville, Ky.
11. Colorado Mesa 356-344–700
41. Jessica Berve 87-81–168; 52. Michelle Stripp 87-85–172; 59. Jennifer Hilts 89-88–177; 66. Alisa Lindsay 93-91–184; 67. Afton Balling 97-90–187.
