Foster, James Set for National Finals

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern's senior duo of Zach James and Hayden Foster are set to open play on May 20 in the first round of the NCAA Division II National Finals on the Cobb Course at The Resort at Glade Springs in Daniels, W.V.
 
Foster advanced to the championship with a two-under-par second-place finish individually at the Central/Midwest Super Regional, while James was fourth at one-under, making them the top two advancing individuals from the super regional.
 
Both players were named PING All-Central Region this week, while James was recently named a finalist for the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award presented by Barbasol.
 
Foster had an incredibly consistent tournament at Hot Springs, Ark., opening the event with a 69 before posting rounds of 73 and 72 on day two to card a three-round total of 214 which was good for a second-place tie.
 
James opened the event with a 75, but turned the corner over the final two rounds with a second-round score of 72 before posting a final round score of 68, including an eagle and four birdies, to fire a 54-hole 215.
 
Both players earned berths to the NCAA National Finals, marking the first time Southeastern has advanced two individuals to the national finals as individuals in the same season.
 
James, a senior from Whitesboro, Texas, is ranked fourth nationally and is a two-time finalist for the Jack Nicklaus Award and earned both all-region and All-American honors a year ago.  He is a two-time Great American Conference Golfer of the Year and has twice been named Southeastern's Most Outstanding Male Athlete.
 
Through the 2018-19 season he earned seven GAC Player of the Week awards this season and is ranked fourth nationally heading into the Central/Midwest Super Regional.
 
He has picked up five individual titles in his 12 tournaments this season and has finished in the top two in nine of them.
 
His 70.13 average score over 32 rounds is bolstered by 16 scores in the 60's and 23 rounds at par or better.
 
Foster, a senior from Pottsboro, Texas, is ranked 61st nationally and was a runner-up at the Central/Midwest Super Regional in his last outing. He is also a two-time first team all-conference award winner, while this is his first all-region recognition.
 
He posted a best finish of second at the Newman Fall Invitational and the Central/Midwest Super Regional and has three top-fives and six top-10 finishes.
 
On the season Foster has posted five rounds in the 60's and 19 at par or better for an average score of 72.722 over 32 rounds.