The William Woods University Owls golf team stayed stationary but still lost some ground to the leader, while trying to hold off a tight pack.
Third-ranked William Woods shot a 293 team score in Thursday's third round to remain in second place at the NAIA men's national championships at the LPGA International Hills Course. The Owls - who completed the last nine holes of the second round earlier Thursday after play was suspended Wednesday because of lightning - own an 870 total.
College of Coastal Georgia continued to hold down the top spot and gained some separation from William Woods on Thursday, increasing its advantage by 10 strokes after finishing with a 238 in the third round. The Mariners, with an 854 score, now lead William Woods by 16 strokes entering today's fourth and final round.
Meanwhile, only four strokes stood between the Owls and the three schools crowded right behind them in the team standings. Cal State-San Marcos was in third place with an 871, Johnson & Wales (Florida) followed in fourth (872), and Webber International was fifth (874).
William Woods' performance Thursday was highlighted by sophomore David Houlding's remarkable rise up the individual leaderboard. Houlding's 6-under par 66 in the third round - the second-lowest score of the day - launched him up an incredible 30 spots to leave him in fifth place with a 3-under 213.
Houlding is 11 strokes behind Dalton State's Sean Elliott, the individual leader with a 14-under 202. Elliott logged the lowest total of the third round with a 7-under 65.
Sophomore Matt Wells shot a 75 on Thursday for the Owls and is in a five-way tie for eighth place with a 1-under 215. Senior Stan Gautier finished with a 77 and sits in a six-way share for 50th with a 223.
Senior Julian Taylor (78) and sophomore Billy McKenzie (75) are among six golfers who are tied for 58th with a 225.
•Notes: William Woods' Barry Doty was named Wednesday by the Golf Coaches of America as one of five finalists for the Dave Williams Award - presented by Golf Pride Grips - which goes to the NAIA national coach of the year. The other finalists are Oklahoma City's Kyle Blaser, Johnson & Wales' AJ Broderick, Coastal Georgia's Mike Cook and Cal State-San Marcos' Greg Hutton. ... Houlding, Gautier and McKenzie were selected Thursday to the North squad of the Golf Coaches Association of America's NAIA PING All-Region teams. McKenzie - one of five finalists for NAIA player of the year - and Houlding both received the PING recognition for the second straight year, while Gautier was a first-time choice. Houlding and Gautier were the American Midwest Conference player and newcomer of the year, respectively.