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Golfers Finish 10th In Aggie Invitational
April 16, 2006 | Men's Golf
COLLEGE STATION, Texas ? The University of Colorado men's golf team inched up a spot to finish 10th here Sunday in the Texas A&M Aggie Invitational, the final tune-up ahead of next week's Big 12 Conference Championships.
No. 16 Texas Tech sent the rest of the league a statement, as the Red Raiders put an 8-under 276 score up in the final round to come from 15 strokes down in defeating host and No. 9-ranked Texas A&M. TTU finished with an 868 score, one better than the Aggies (869), as both defeated second-ranked Oklahoma State (877).
Colorado, the No. 50 team in the latest rankings, shot its best round of the meet with a 303 Sunday, which moved the Buffaloes from 11th after two rounds into a 10th place finish with a 924 total. There were 12 teams in the field, including four in the top 16 and 10 in the top 50, one of the strongest collegiate fields of the year.
The Big 12 Championships are set for Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., April 24-25. Colorado is this year's host of the tournament, as all schools take turns handling administrative duties even though the meet is earmarked for only three states, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Edward McGlasson, ranked No. 18 in the nation individually, closed with a 77 to tie for 21st with a 226 score for 54 holes; that snapped a school-record six straight top 10 finishes by the Buff senior, who had 13 pars and five bogeys in his final round, never getting anything going. It was his first round without at least one birdie in 29 played this season.
Freshman Derek Tolan tied for 33rd, firing a 74 for a 231 total, as he shook off a brief slump and posted his best score in six rounds. He has team-best five birdies in his final round, the most by any Buff in the 15 played here. Senior Kenny Coakley also put up a 2-over 74 to close with at 234 to tie for 50th. Sophomore Patrick Grady (78?237) and junior Ryan Anderson (84?240) continued to struggle with their games, combining for just three birdies against five double bogeys or worse Sunday,
Texas Tech's Oscar Floren rebounded from an opening round 75 to play the final 36 holes 11-under, including the meet's low round of 66 Sunday, to claim medalist honors with a 209 score. That 7-under par total was good for a three-shot win over Baylor's Ryan Baca on the 7,235-yard, par-72 Traditions Golf Course layout.
“Mark (Simpson) would have loved this tournament, because this separates the men from the boys,” interim coach Brad Neher said, referring to CU's late head coach. “It was the perfect example of college kids playing a course they shouldn't have way too aggressive, and it gives you a true test of where you're at. The course next week (Southern Hills) is a little harder than this one, so it was the perfect tune-up. I just wish we could have played better; while many other teams are saying that too, we certainly know we could have.
“Kenny and Derek played a lot better today, definitely moving them in the right direction, and Edward played okay,” Neher added. “He made a few mistakes, but basically played even with the field. It should motivate him, seeing who beat him and by how many. But again, this was great preparation for next week, a barometer of where we are against where we need to be. We have a just few days to get back on track to get there a week from tomorrow (Monday, April 24).”
The Buffs will have one brief competition prior to the leaving for the Big 12 meet, the second annual Fowler Cup, which honors CU's long-time coach, Les Fowler, who piloted the Buffs between 1948-77, turning the program over to Simpson. Current players are pitted with and against CU alumni in four-ball play in the morning and match play in the afternoon.
BUFFALO INDIVIDUALS
T21. Edward McGlasson.... 75-74-77--226
T33. Derek Tolan......... 78-79-74--231
T50. Kenny Coakley....... 80-80-74--234
57. Patrick Grady....... 80-79-78--237
T60. Ryan Anderson....... 78-78-84--240
TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS
1. Oscar Floren, Texas Tech.......... 75-68-66--209
2. Ryan Baca, Baylor................. 71-72-69--212
3. Andrew Parr, Texas A&M............ 73-73-69--215
4. Pablo Martin, Oklahoma State...... 72-74-70--216
T5. Andrew Dresser, Texas Tech........ 75-74-68--217
T5. Jonathan Moore, Oklahoma State.... 75-71-71--217
TEAM SCORES
1. Texas Tech............... 300-292-276--868
2. Texas A & M.............. 290-287-292--869
3. Oklahoma State........... 294-300-283--877
4. Kent State............... 292-301-290--883
5. SMU...................... 297-303-299--899
6. Baylor................... 306-304-299--909
6. New Mexico............... 305-307-297--909
8. Oklahoma................. 307-313-296--916
8. Kansas State............. 302-305-309--916
10. COLORADO................. 311-310-303--924
11. Michigan State........... 304-315-309--928
11. Augusta State............ 311-311-306--928
