EL PASO, Texas -- Junior Matthew Rosenfeld (Plano, Texas) shot a three-under par 68 in the final round of the 2004 Western Refining All-America Golf Classic (El Paso Country Club: Par 71, 6,817 yards) to tie Georgia Tech's Nicholas Thompson at nine-under-par for the tournament. Thompson (67-65-72=204) tapped in for par on the first playoff hole to earn medalist honors, while Rosenfeld (69-67-68=204) earned his second runner-up finish and third top five of the fall.
"I missed a few chances out there today," said Rosenfeld. "But, overall I'm definitely pleased with my finish. Unfortunately, I didn't make a bogey all day until the playoff hole, but there are a lot of positives and I did some good things in this tournament."
Rosenfeld had to finish his second round this morning after play had to be halted on Monday due to weather. He opened with a birdie on the 16th hole of his second round moving him to four-under-par, where he would finish. The four-under second round gave him a two round total of six-under-par (69-67=136) and left him in a tie for fourth entering the final round.
During the final round, Rosenfeld battled tough weather conditions to put up the best final round score, a three-under-par 68. He reached the clubhouse at nine-under-par. Thompson needed a par on his final hole to win the tournament, but three-putted for a bogey to set up the playoff.
On the first playoff hole, Thompson reached the green in two, while Rosenfeld drew a bad lie in the trees after his tee shot went left. Rosenfeld knocked the ball back in play and reached in four, setting up Thompson,s two-put par for the win.
"I've been close to winning a tournament all season," explained Rosenfeld. "I just haven't been able to quite put it all together. I'm going to use the break to work on my game and get ready for the spring."
The All-America Classic's field is made up of players named to an All-American team in 2004. In taking second place, Rosenfeld, ranked 10th in the Golfweek/Sagarin individual ratings, bested the second, third and seventh-ranked players in the country. He also earned a $1,000 scholarship for the University of Texas, just for competing in the tournament.
The Longhorns fall season is now complete and they will return to the course on Feb. 9, 2005 at the Taylor Made Waikoloa Intercollegiate at the Waikoloa Country Club in Kona, Hawaii.
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