BRISTOL — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College came within two strokes of making the NJCAA national tournament Tuesday, April 25. Instead, they will have to settle for a pair of individuals competing on the big stage in May.

ABAC finished at a +24 876 over the two-day, three-round tournament, finishing in 4th place. Cleveland State finished in 3rd at a +22 874. Head coach Larry Byrnes that difference will keep them from competing at nationals as a team.

Roane State won by playing at even par as a team, 852. Walters State was second at 859.

After a difficult 297 to open play, the Stallions chopped off nine strokes in the second round. Though they out-shot Cleveland State 291 to 295 in the third, they could not make up enough ground. Cleveland State’s second round was the best of any team and they were three shots better than ABAC in the first round.

Not all news was bad for the Stallions; Stewart Rustin and Hagen Marion turned in top 10 individual finishes and will move on to the big dance. The two were the top scores not belonging to an advancing team.

In finishing at a +5, Rustin’s last round was par for the course at 71. No round was higher than a +3. Marion was a stroke behind Rustin at +6. He had the best round of anyone for the Stallions, a -1 (70) second round.

Byrnes said both made All-Tournament.

“I will be taking them to the national tournament,” Byrnes said in a text. “Tough loss for the other players. They fought hard.”

Whit Hayes and Brock Barber both shot +9 for the district tournament. Brady Kotkiewicz also was on the course for ABAC. Hayes joined Marion and Rustin as having a round of even par or better.

Nationals will take place May 23-26 at a course very familiar to Byrnes, Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Ind.