LITTLE ROCK — GOLF
Arkansas women finish 23rd
The Arkansas women’s team shot a final-round 301 Friday to finish 23rd overall at the NCAA Championships in Franklin, Tenn.
The Razorbacks finished at 1,214 for the tournament, 62 strokes over par on the 6,264-yard Vanderbilt Legends Course. Arkansas had previously shot rounds of 303, 301, 309.
Alabama won its first women’s golf title, shooting a final-round 6-over 294 to finish at 19-over 1,171. Southern Cal finished second, a stroke back, while LSU (1,173) was third and Virginia (1,175) was fourth. South Carolina rounded out the top five at 1,176.
“It was a little better today, but we were in a position that it was really hard to climb out of,” Arkansas Coach Shauna Estes-Taylor said. “But, as always, being in a national championship is an amazing experience. It’s an opportunity for this team to grow.”
Sophomore Emily Tubert led the Razorbacks, finishing tied for 33rd at 8-over 296 after shooting a final-round 72, while sophomore Emma Lavy shot 73 and finished tied for 71st at 303.
Sophomore Emily Podzielinski finished tied for 84th at 305 after shooting a 79, and junior Victoria Vela shot a 70 to finish tied for 113th at 312. Freshman Hally Leadbetter rounded out the Razorbacks’ scoring, finishing tied for 119th at 315 after shooting a 77.
Chirapat Jao-Javanil of Oklahoma won the individual title by four strokes over Alabama’s Brooke Pancake. Jao-Javanil shot a final-round 70 and finished at 6-under 282.
FOOTBALL
Cogswell commits to Arkansas
A week after being offered a scholarship by Arkansas, Florida quarterback Tyler Cogswell publicly committed to the Razorbacks on Friday afternoon.
Cogswell, 6-5, 225 pounds, 4.9 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Plantation American Heritage High School, chose the Razorbacks over scholarship offers from Nebraska, Hawaii, South Alabama, Central Michigan and Florida International. He said his relationship with offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Paul Petrino and the Hogs’ pro-style offense won him over.
“I love his demeanor and I love the offense,” said Cogswell, who told Petrino about his commitment Wednesday. “I have fun talking to him because it isn’t always about football, it’s about other things, too, and it shows he really cares about his players.”
Cogswell, who visited Arkansas on Feb. 11 for a Junior Day, performed well in a May 14 practice that Petrino attended. He called Petrino four days later and got the offer.
“I’m pretty solid on this commitment,” said Cogswell, who plans to make a return trip to Fayetteville the first week in June. “I’m really excited about Arkansas as a whole. I loved the campus and everything about it up there, especially Coach Petrino and I’m excited about being a Hog.”
Cogswell, who completed 117 of 214 passes for 1,833 yards and 23 touchdowns, is Arkansas’ No. 6 commitment for the 2013 recruiting class. Oral commitments are nonbinding.
- Richard Davenport
Bengals to keep former ASU DE Joiner
Former Arkansas State defensive end Brandon Joiner’s chances at an NFL career aren’t extinguished.
The Cincinnati Bengals said Friday they have no intention of cutting Joiner, who was signed as an undrafted free agent, from their roster even though he was sentenced to three years in a Texas prison this week.
“His positive actions during the past five years, including significant community service work, graduation from Arkansas State University and an unblemished subsequent behavior record, have generated a group of active supporters,” the Bengals said in a statement. “The Bengals support Brandon’s future opportunity for a career in the NFL.”
Joiner, who was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year, ended his college career at ASU after he was dismissed by Texas A&M.
In November 2007, Joiner and another then-Aggies player, Yemi Babalola, broke into a College Station, Texas, apartment and robbed a drug dealer at gunpoint. He was indicted in January 2008 on two counts of aggravated robbery and one charge of felony drug possession.
Joiner spent two seasons at Navarro Junior College in Corsicana, Texas, before transferring to ASU, where he led the Red Wolves with 13 sacks and 19 tackles for loss last season. He graduated this month.
The Bengals signed Joiner, 23, on May 1, and he took part in three days of rookie minicamp two weeks ago.
- Matthew Harris
Harding, Southern Arkansas move game
Southern Arkansas and Harding will meet in the fourth Boomtown Classic this fall.
The schools announced Friday that the site of their Great American Conference game, originally scheduled to be played in Magnolia, has been moved to El Dorado High School’s Memorial Stadium. Game time is set for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 6.
TRACK AND FIELD
Arkansas, ASU athletes qualify for nationals
The Arkansas men’s team had two athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships on Friday at the NCAA West Region preliminary in Austin, Texas. Akheem Gauntlett and Neil Braddy qualified in the 400 meters and Caleb Cross qualified in the 400 hurdles.
Gauntlett finished second in his heat and sixth overall in 46.0 seconds. Braddy finished fourth in his heat, but had the fastest at-large time of 46.19. Cross finished second in his heat and fifth overall in 50.54.
Arkansas State sophomore Sharika Nelvis finished second in her heat and was sixth in the 100.
Sports, Pages 23 on 05/26/2012