Spring Break
Men's Golf Jumps to Third after Historic Day
By: Brett Sebastian
Issue date: 5/11/09 Section: Sports
The Texas A&M Men's golf team climbed from twelfth to third place today at the NCAA Championship tournament at Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio. The Aggies shot eight under par, the best score of the day by four strokes. It also broke A&M's old championship tournament record of six under par set in 1982.
"Our players were really loose before the round and went out and played great golf," A&M Head Coach J.T. Higgins said to aggieathletics.com. "I thought we handled the delay very well. Bronson took charge and led us home but it was a terrific day all around. We're in great position and I like our chances. Obviously, the best way to advance is to win, but the main thing is to be in the top eight and still be playing on Friday."
The tournament was delayed for over four hours mid way through the day and several schools will finish their second rounds Thursday morning. The rain delay had little affect of the Aggies or senior Bronson Burgoon who led the way for A&M.
Burgoon posted a four under 67 and is currently slated third with a 139. He is one shot behind co-leaders Russell Henley of Georgia and Matt Hill of North Carolina State.
In addition to Burgoon, sophomores Conrad Shindler and John Hurley broke par for the day. Shindler is currently tied for nineteenth while Hurley is tied at 23. Junior Andrea Pavan is currently tied at 61 and senior Matt Van Zandt is tied for 119.
"Bronson, Conrad and John were phenomenal today," said Higgins. "Conrad hit it close all day but missed a lot of putts. He could have had an absolutely amazing day. Bronson has done a good job the last few weeks of just playing his game and not worrying about anybody else. When he approaches it that way he plays his best golf."
Shindler got the Aggies started on the right foot with four birdies on his first seven holes. Burgoon topped that with five birdies and shot two under on both nines.
"I just started out trying to make as many pars as I could and then if a birdie came then great," Burgoon said. "My main focus was the middle of the greens and fairways. That's the key to this golf course. If you hit the fairways you are going to score okay because the greens are soft. I felt like if I hit the fairways I had a really good shot at scoring well."
The Aggies sit behind leader Oklahoma State by six strokes and second place Georgia by one. Arizona State and San Diego are tied at seven over, one stroke behind A&M, to round out the top five. The top eight teams after Thursday's round advance to match play on Friday and Saturday for the National Championship.
"Our players were really loose before the round and went out and played great golf," A&M Head Coach J.T. Higgins said to aggieathletics.com. "I thought we handled the delay very well. Bronson took charge and led us home but it was a terrific day all around. We're in great position and I like our chances. Obviously, the best way to advance is to win, but the main thing is to be in the top eight and still be playing on Friday."
The tournament was delayed for over four hours mid way through the day and several schools will finish their second rounds Thursday morning. The rain delay had little affect of the Aggies or senior Bronson Burgoon who led the way for A&M.
Burgoon posted a four under 67 and is currently slated third with a 139. He is one shot behind co-leaders Russell Henley of Georgia and Matt Hill of North Carolina State.
In addition to Burgoon, sophomores Conrad Shindler and John Hurley broke par for the day. Shindler is currently tied for nineteenth while Hurley is tied at 23. Junior Andrea Pavan is currently tied at 61 and senior Matt Van Zandt is tied for 119.
"Bronson, Conrad and John were phenomenal today," said Higgins. "Conrad hit it close all day but missed a lot of putts. He could have had an absolutely amazing day. Bronson has done a good job the last few weeks of just playing his game and not worrying about anybody else. When he approaches it that way he plays his best golf."
Shindler got the Aggies started on the right foot with four birdies on his first seven holes. Burgoon topped that with five birdies and shot two under on both nines.
"I just started out trying to make as many pars as I could and then if a birdie came then great," Burgoon said. "My main focus was the middle of the greens and fairways. That's the key to this golf course. If you hit the fairways you are going to score okay because the greens are soft. I felt like if I hit the fairways I had a really good shot at scoring well."
The Aggies sit behind leader Oklahoma State by six strokes and second place Georgia by one. Arizona State and San Diego are tied at seven over, one stroke behind A&M, to round out the top five. The top eight teams after Thursday's round advance to match play on Friday and Saturday for the National Championship.
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