BEN LASSO WINS NCAA D2 SUPER-REGIONAL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

"Simply Awesome!"  That was the description at the award ceremony when Ben Lasso was announced as the winner of the NCAA D2 Super Regional South/Southeast Championship hled May 3-5  in Wilson Country Club at Wilson, North Carolina. Lasso shot 69, 69 and 67.  Lasso was one behind the leaders after the second day but he recorded six birdies and two bogies on day three to finish three ahead of the nearest competitor. He finished the three rounds with a score of eight under par.

Ben Lasso, a Charlotte City resident, led the Queens University at Charlotte golf team as they advanced for the first time in the golf program history to the NCAA D2 National Championship by placing fifth at the Super Regional.  Queens finished ahead of four of the nation's top 10 teams.

All of the Queen's Team played their best which resulted in the team finishing fifth of twenty teams in the Super Regional.  The National Championship is comprised of five teams from each of the four Super Regionals.  The National Championship will be held May 17-21 at the Jack Nicklaus designed Sagamore Course at Noblesville, Indiana

Lasso was focused on winning from day one. He had one bogey and three birdies the first day, playing virtually flawlessly from tee to green.  That 69 put in in a tie for fourth place.  He stuck to his game plan and on the second day again had one bogey and three birdies; only two golfers were ahead of him by the end of the second day and only by one stroke.  Lasso's determined and meticulous play was belied by his demeanor - he was smiling, even tempered throughout despite some devilish situations.  Lasso had moved to third place.

On the third day the course was toughened by dry, hot weather that made the already undulating and and fast greens even more slippery.  While other closer competitors were likely to press hard to build a lead or catch up and get ahead, Lasso figured that consistency was the key on the short but very tight 6839 yard course.

Rather than take risks, Lasso stuck to his game plan. Again his accuracy off the tee set him up nicely for his approach shots. He wisely hit to the wide part of the green, unless he was in wedge range, knowing that many competitors would shoot for the flag and likely end up in trouble.  By the end of the third round Lasso's strategy paid off, as he carded a birdie on the final hole of the tournament.

As the last golfer on the five member team to complete his round, it was a fitting end as his coach and teammates were ready to celebrate--while a few team were still out on the course, Queens was confident that senior Andrew Hodge's 66-the best round of his college career-and Lasso's 67 had sealed Queens University's first ever appearance in the National Championship.

 Two weeks earlier at the close of the regular spring season tournaments, Lasso was selected to the Conference Carolinas First Team and received the Most Valuable Player Award for golf from Queens University.