EL DORADO, Ark. – Moments like this are what fifth-year seniors Brett Barron and Jake Maples had in mind when they opted to come back for their extra years of eligibility.

Maples never trailed and won both his matches, and Barron won one and tied one to lead Georgia Southern to the Sun Belt Championship Wednesday at Mystic Creek Golf Club. 

The Eagles topped Coastal Carolina 4-0-1 in the semifinals and defeated Little Rock 3-1-1 in the finals. It is the program's second Sun Belt team title (2015) and 10th conference championship overall. 

The Eagles earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. It will be their 26th appearance, the fourth under head coach Carter Collins and the ninth in Collins' 14-year tenure on the coaching staff. The selection show for the NCAA Championships will air on the GOLF Channel Wednesday, May 5, at 2 p.m.

After Ben Carr and Maples won their matches early against Little Rock, Mason Williams was 2-UP through 16. He yanked his second shot into the woods and scrambled for bogey on 17. Little Rock's Nico Horder was on the dance floor with a 20-footer for birdie, but he three-putted to halve the hole and give Williams the win.

All five guys in the lineup won a match today with Maples and Carr winning two and Williams, Barron and Luke Dasher each picking up a victory.

Key Moments vs. Little Rock
Carr built a five-hole lead through 10 and knocked his approach to within three feet on 14. His birdie putt was conceded to give him the 5&4 win in the match and the Eagles a 1-0 lead on the team scoreboard.

Maples had a 4-UP lead on 15 and had two putts to win it. He snuggled his first one, a 20-footer, tight, and his second was conceded, giving him a 4&3 win and putting the Eagles ahead 2-0.

Williams was all-square with Nico Horder through 12 but made birdie on 13 to go 1-UP. The junior snaked in a 25-footer for birdie on 15 to go 2-UP, and the pair halved the 16th with Horder saving par with a 6-foot, up-hill putt. 

Williams went into the Woods on 17 and over the right side of the green on his second shot. He chipped on and two-putted for bogey, but Horder would also bogey to halve the hole.

Key moments vs. Coastal Carolina
Barron lost the first hole but took over after that and won the next four to open a 3-UP advantage. He won the seventh and 11th holes to extend the margin to 5-Up. After Tyler Gray made birdie at 12 to cut the margin to 4, Barron made birdie at the 599-yard, par-5 14th to win the match.

Maples won the first hole of his match and led 5-UP after 10 holes. He made a birdie at the par-4 13th to go 6-UP and finish the match.

Dasher was tied after 11 holes but birdied 12 and made par at 15 to go 2-UP with three to play. He made par at 16 and 17 to seal the win in his match as well as send the Eagles to the finals.

Quotables from Georgia Southern Coach Carter Collins
"I could not be more proud of these guys and everything they accomplished this week on an extremely difficult golf course and in an extremely difficult format. I'm especially proud of Brett and Jake for coming back for their fifth year; they definitely deserve this. I'm proud of the whole team for putting forth a great effort this week and all year. I can't wait to see what's next. Go Eagles!!!"

Finals Results – GS wins 3-1-1
Match 1 - Brett Barron vs. Logan Pate - TIE
Match 2 - Mason Williams vs. Nicolas Horder – GS wins 2&1
Match 3 - Luke Dasher vs. Magnus Lomholt – LR wins 1&2
Match 4 - Jake Maples vs. Anton Albers – GS wins 4&3
Match 5 - Ben Carr vs. Marcel Rauch – GS wins 5&4

Semifinals Results – GS wins 4-0-1
Match 1 - Brett Barron vs. Tyler Gray – GS wins 5&4
Match 2 - Mason Williams vs. Seth Taylor - TIE
Match 3 - Luke Dasher vs. Zack Taylor – GA wins 2&1
Match 4 - Jake Maples vs. Gavin Noble – GS wins 6&5
Match 5 - Ben Carr vs. States Fort – GS wins 1&2