Men's Golf preview: NCAA Austin Regional Championship
May 13, 2009 WHAT: Texas hosts the 2009 NCAA Austin Regional Championship, which features 13 teams and 10 individuals. The low five teams and low individual not on those teams will advance to the 2009 NCAA Championships set for May 26-30 in Toledo, Ohio. WHERE: The University of Texas Golf Club - Austin, Texas (par 71, 7,412 yards) WHEN: Thursday, May 14 through Saturday, May 16; the initial tee times are set for 8:30 a.m. Central each day. LIVE SCORING: Click here for live scoring. TEXAS STARTERS NCAA Austin Regional Field Individuals LAST YEAR AT THE NCAA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEXAS FINISHES STRONG AT BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP Out of the 492 total rounds played by the 12 member schools in the 13-year history of the Big 12 Championship, the final-round 280 from Texas marked the sixth-lowest round in tournament history and marked UT's second-lowest round in its 13 Big 12 Championship appearances. Texas' lowest round at the Big 12 Championships was a 279 at the 1999 Big 12 Championship, also at Prairie Dunes Country Club. TEXAS OPENS SEASON WITH GOPHER INVITATIONAL WIN 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 collected 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. LONGHORNS ADD SECOND TEAM VICTORY AT TURTLE BAY INTERCOLLEGIATE Frittelli improved throughout the tournament and chipped in his first sub-70 round of the tournament when his team needed it most. With his seven-under 65 in the final round, Frittelli finished the event tied for sixth place at six-under par. FRITTELLI CAPTURES PUERTO RICO CLASSIC Frittelli opened the tournament with a five-under 67 before dropping an eight-under 64 on in round two to produce the first sub-65 round from a Longhorn golfer since 2001, when David Gossett shot a 63 at the NCAA Championships. The 2007 Toyota World Junior Champion, Frittelli joins teammates Charlie Holland and Bobby Hudson among current Longhorns to win a college tournament. WHO RETURNS: Texas returns three starters from the 2008 squad that placed 19th at the NCAA Championships and took second at the Big 12 Championships. Junior Charlie Holland returns after earning GCAA third-team All-America honors last season, during which he took medalist honors at the Fresno State Lexus Classic. UT also returns sophomore Bobby Hudson, who set a course record with a 65 at The University of Texas Golf Club last April en route to medalist honors at the Morris Williams Intercollegiate. Junior Lance Lopez also returns after playing in the last two NCAA Championships for the Longhorns. Sophomore Donald Constable played in four events last season and has earned a start in each tournament this season.
|
|
