The SMU men's golf team fired a third round 302 (+22) to finish tied for 26th at the 2004 NCAA Championship in Hot Springs, Va. SMU's three round total of 887 (+47) left the Mustangs 16 strokes shy of making the cut for Friday's fourth and final round, thus ending the season for a SMU squad that won the team's first conference championship since 1988. The top 15 teams advanced to Friday's final 18 holes of play. UCLA is leading the team competition at seven over (847).

On Thursday, the Mustangs posted a 22 over total of 302 on the day. SMU was led by the efforts of freshman Dan Kleckner who finished a very solid week of play with a third round 73 (+3) on the par 70 course. Kleckner birdied three holes on the day in his final competition of his freshman campaign.

Sophomore All Western Athletic Conference selection Will Dodson posted a third round 74 (+4) to finish 12 over (222) for the tournament. On Thursday, Dodson carded three birdies and seven bogeys. Junior captain Scott Abbott posted a third round 76 (+6) and finished at 15 over (225) for the tournament.

Sophomore Jerad Harklau carded a third round 79 (+9) and finished 15 over (225), while freshman Colt Knost rounded out the Pony effort with a third round 80 (+10), finishing at 18 over (228) for the tournament.

The championship ends a 2003-04 season that saw the Mustangs capture its first ever Western Athletic Conference Championship and the team's first conference title since winning the Southwest Conference title in 1988. During the season, SMU won four tournaments while Knost won the 2004 WAC Freshman of the Year award, marking the second consecutive year SMU has taken home the honor. SMU head coach Jay Loar was named WAC Coach of the Year as well for the Ponies. The Mustangs return everyone from this year's squad back in 2004-05.


My Note: Great job my the Mustangs this year!! Truely proud of you guys and cant wait till you guys get back out there next year!! Great job and keep your heads up high! Go Stangs!!