Jason Korkrak
Former Musketeer golfer Jason Kokrak secured his PGA tour card after finishing 4-under par for a tie for fifth at the Nationwide Tour Championship in Charleston, S.C.
Kokrak started the Nationwide Tour Championship in 70th place, moved into the top 25 after his first win and then into the top five, where he remained until the end of the tournament. As a result of his successful play in 2011, he will compete in the 2012 PGA Tour.
The top 25 from the Nationwide Tour earned full PGA tour cards for next year. The 26-year-old Kokrak was ranked fourth in all-around ranking and money leaders. He finished first on the Tour in driving distance, second in birdie average and par breakers and third in scoring average.
Kokrak is the first former-Musketeer to earn a PGA tour card. The Warren, Ohio, native graduated from Xavier in 2007.
XU men’s golf
The men’s golf team competed at the Amelia Island Intercollegiate in Fernandina Beach, Fla., this weekend for their final meet of the fall season. Sebastian MacLean finished 14th overall, and was the first finisher for the Musketeers. MacLean shot 3-over par 79 in the final round and was 3-over par 219 for a tournament total.
The second Musketeers’ finisher was freshman Corey Ward, whose total was 5-over par 221 after going 4-over par 76 in the final round. He finished in a tie at 24th. Tanapol Vattanapisit was Xavier’s next finisher, coming in at 29th.
North Florida came away with the win for team title with a 20-under par 844, and Sean Dale of UNF earned medalist honors with a 9-under par 207.
Xavier begins its spring season with the Bash at the Beach on March 11, 2012 in Daytona Beach, Fla.