Sept. 14, 2008
· Individual results 
· Team results
WAYZATA, Minn. -- Texas rallied from a four-stroke deficit heading into Sunday's final round to tie 36-hole leader LSU for the team tournament title at the 12-team, season-opening Gopher Invitational at the Spring Hill Golf Club.
The Longhorns played even-par golf over the final three holes, while LSU played at two-over par over the final three holes, enabling Texas to tie the Tigers in the end. A birdie at the 18th hole from UT sophomore Donald Constable, who was playing on his hometown course, proved to be the difference, as UT shot one-over par at the 18th hole compared to two-over par for LSU.
Texas collects its first tournament victory since the 2008 Morris Williams Intercollegiate at The University of Texas Golf Club. Texas and LSU were named co-champions, but with only one team tournament trophy available, Texas was awarded the trophy by way of its fifth player, sophomore Bobby Hudson, having a lower 54-hole score than LSU's fifth player, Josh Jones. Hudson finished with a 10-over 226 for the tournament, while Jones ended with a 15-over 231.
Junior Charlie Holland tied for second place and landed the sixth top-10 collegiate finish of his career. Holland birdied the first, third and sixth holes to finish with a 37 at the turn before carding a 38 on the back nine. With his three-over 75 in the final round, Holland tied for second place at one-under par for the tournament.
Constable kept the Horns in tournament contention with a smooth one-under 71 in the final round behind birdies at the third, 10th and 18th holes. Constable carded a 37 on the front nine before turning in a critical 34 on the back nine to land the Horns' low round of the day. Constable scored his top individual finish as a Longhorns, tying for eighth place at three-over for the tournament.
Junior Lance Lopez opened with a 37 on the front nine and finished with a 39 on the back to shoot a four-over 76 in the final round. Lopez tied for 26th place alongside UT freshman Dylan Frittelli, who opened with rounds of 73 and 72 before stroking a seven-over 79 on Sunday. Lopez and Frittelli finished at eight-over par over 54 holes.
Hudson continued his weekend-long progression with his finest round of the tournament, a one-over 73. Hudson birdied the fifth and sixth holes en route to a 36 on the front nine before producing a 37 on the back. Hudson tied for 34th place at 10-over for the tournament.
Texas returns to action on Friday, Sept. 19 at the Olympia Fields Invitational hosted by the University of Illinois.
Gopher Invitational - Spring Hill Golf Club
T1. TEXAS 282-295-295-872 (+8)
T1. LSU 284-289-299-872 (+8)
Texas Players
T2. Charlie Holland 67-73-75-215 (-1)
T8. Donald Constable 70-78-71-219 (+3)
T26. Lance Lopez 72-76-76-224 (+8)
T26. Dylan Frittelli 73-72-79-224 (+8)
T34. Bobby Hudson 79-74-73-226 (+10)
POST-MEET QUOTES
HEAD COACH John Fields
On the season-opening win: I feel like we've got a really good team, and to get a win to start the season kind of sets the tone for what might come later. We have a lot of improving to do, but at the same time, I'm really proud that the guys came up here, took care of business and got a victory. The weather conditions were tough on a really difficult golf course. Shooting eight-over par to start the season was terrific...a great job by all of our guys.
On sophomore Donald Constable helping the Horns to victory in his hometown: I'm really pleased for Donald. Last year, he got into the lineup but didn't get into postseason play. He has improved and can really help us. His two rounds under par on this golf course were sensational. He ran into a tough stretch during the second round, but other than that, he played fantastic golf. His birdie on the last hole to help us get the win was awesome. You dream of those things when you're a golfer, that you might get a chance to go home and play in front of your family and be successful.
On Charlie Holland's top-five finish: Charlie really played well the first round and was super solid for us. This runner-up finish will be a fuel for him because he really wanted to get the individual victory. But, he did a great job for us and played really well.
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