Golf ends season on sour note
Paul Fitzgerald
Issue date: 5/15/09 Section: Sports
The golf team's final event concluded much like their season did: disappointingly. The Owls jumped out to a hot start at the Conference USA tournament last month, but a poor second round meant the team would record a below-expected finish for the third straight year.
The C-USA Tournament was held at the Red Tail Golf Club in Sorrento, Fla. and hosted by the University of Central Florida. The Owls posted a last-place finish at the 2008 C-USA Tournament, but headed into this year's tournament with optimism over their prospects.
"We've had a lot more success this year than in year's past," Head Coach Drew Scott (Wiess '98) said prior to the three-day event. "We've played a lot of teams in the conference, and we're not far behind those guys, so it's definitely within reach."
Rice's first round proved Scott correct, as the Owls shot a 292 (+4) to put themselves three shots out of fourth place after the first day. Sophomore Michael Whitehead's opening-round 69 carried the Owls, as Whitehead was only one shot out of a tie for first place. Whitehead would cool off, though, finishing the tournament in 16th place with an even par 216.
The Owls stumbled in the second round, however, shooting 300 (+12), a score that left them in eighth place heading into the final round. Whitehead, junior Chris Brown and sophomore Robert Burrow all shot 74 (+2). Brown would finish in a tie for 17th, one shot behind Whitehead, while Burrow finished in a tie for 29th after shooting a 222 (+6).
With their NCAA Tournament prospects bleak - the Owls needed to win the event to qualify - the team shot a final-round 293 (+5) to finish where they started the round, in eighth place. Brown's 72 (E) led the Owls in the third round.
Rice finished seven shots back of cross-town rival University of Houston. Host UCF won the event by shooting a three-round cumulative score of 846 to finish six strokes ahead of Southern Methodist University. Simon Ward and Blayne Barber, both of UCF, finished first and second, respectively, shooting 205 and 206 to distance themselves from the remainder of the field.
The C-USA Tournament was held at the Red Tail Golf Club in Sorrento, Fla. and hosted by the University of Central Florida. The Owls posted a last-place finish at the 2008 C-USA Tournament, but headed into this year's tournament with optimism over their prospects.
"We've had a lot more success this year than in year's past," Head Coach Drew Scott (Wiess '98) said prior to the three-day event. "We've played a lot of teams in the conference, and we're not far behind those guys, so it's definitely within reach."
Rice's first round proved Scott correct, as the Owls shot a 292 (+4) to put themselves three shots out of fourth place after the first day. Sophomore Michael Whitehead's opening-round 69 carried the Owls, as Whitehead was only one shot out of a tie for first place. Whitehead would cool off, though, finishing the tournament in 16th place with an even par 216.
The Owls stumbled in the second round, however, shooting 300 (+12), a score that left them in eighth place heading into the final round. Whitehead, junior Chris Brown and sophomore Robert Burrow all shot 74 (+2). Brown would finish in a tie for 17th, one shot behind Whitehead, while Burrow finished in a tie for 29th after shooting a 222 (+6).
With their NCAA Tournament prospects bleak - the Owls needed to win the event to qualify - the team shot a final-round 293 (+5) to finish where they started the round, in eighth place. Brown's 72 (E) led the Owls in the third round.
Rice finished seven shots back of cross-town rival University of Houston. Host UCF won the event by shooting a three-round cumulative score of 846 to finish six strokes ahead of Southern Methodist University. Simon Ward and Blayne Barber, both of UCF, finished first and second, respectively, shooting 205 and 206 to distance themselves from the remainder of the field.
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