UAPB Golf: Great Outing Leads To Program First SWAC Conference Championship

FLOWOOD, MS. – The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions made history and claimed the 2023 Southwestern Athletic Conference Men’s Golf Championship Wednesday afternoon.

The title marks the first in program history, in which UAPB have won four in the last six tournaments this season.

The Golden Lions did not back down from its opening round, shooting 283 (-5) under, and led all three rounds at the Refuge Golf Course in Florence, Mississippi, finishing with an 862 (-2) under. UAPB had all five golfers placed in the top 12 overall. 

“It’s very hard to put into words what this means to the guys in the program and for the university, said UAPB head coach Roger Totten, who was named SWAC Coach of the Year by the conference for the third consecutive year. This award marks the fourth time that Totten has won this award in the last five years. “They went out and earned one. They put all those lessons we have learned to work, which paid off in the greatest of ways. When you look at where I first took over the program to now, it just proves that we can compete for SWAC championships annually. I’ll always remember the feeling of walking off the green for the first SWAC championship. It will hold a special place in this program for years to come.”

For the first year, the Golden Lions claimed the individual title as Junior Patrick Mwendapole never relinquished his lead, sporting a 68 (-4) under in the final round to win the event at a 209 (-7) under after being named (Low Medalist) and (First-Team All-SWAC).  

UAPB’s Isamael Garcia placed second overall and was named (Freshman Low Medalist) (First-Team All-SWAC) after finishing with a score of 222 (-1) under, followed by sophomore Li Su, who placed third with a score of 217 (+2) over and was named (First-Team All-SWAC). 

Freshman Angel Perez carted 222 (+6), tied for eighth place, and was named (Second-Team All-SWAC). Junior Jamie Moliner rounded out the champions finishing tied for 12th (+8) 224.

With the hardware, the Golden Lions earn an automatic berth in the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship. 

TEAM SCORES
1. UAPB, 283, 289, 290 (-2) 
2. Alabama St., 295, 301, 295 (+27)
3. Florida A&M, 296, 291, 304 (+27)
4. Texas Southern, 295, 295, 302 (+28)
5. Alabama A&M, 302, 297, 302 (+37)
6. Prairie View A&M, 303, 307, 298 (+44)

2023 Men’s Golf Individual Awards

Coach of the Year
Roger Totten, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Low Medalist
Patrick Mwendapole, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Freshman Low Medalist
Ismael Garcia, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

All-SWAC First Team
Patrick Mwendapole, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Ismael Garcia, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Li Su, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Joel Sullivan, Texas Southern
Jacob Uyesato, Florida A&M

All-SWAC Second Team
Gonzalo Moreno, Alabama State
Caden Cannon, Florida A&M
Angel Perez, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Niall Bagnall, Alabama A&M
Paul Kci Lindskog, Texas Southern