Texas Tech University Athletics
National Invitational to Host Company of Top-50 Squads
March 30, 2007 | Men's Golf
March 30, 2007
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech men's golf team will again be tested by some of the nation's top programs as the Red Raiders take on the National Invitational Tournament in Tucson, Ariz., beginning Mon., April 2nd. The event hosted by the University of Arizona will feature 12 teams in the top 50, including seven ranking 25th or better.
The tournament will be played out on the par-72, 7,094 yard Omni Tucson National Golf Club in northwest Tucson. The first two rounds will be completed on Monday, with the conclusion to the 54-hole tournament on Tuesday. Action will begin with a 7:30 PDT start each day.
Live scoring of the event can be followed on the internet at www.golfstatresults.com. Complete Texas Tech results will be posted online at www.texastech.com following each day's completion.
THE COURSE The 2007 edition of the National Invitational Tournament will take place at the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort and Spa on the par-72, 7,094 yard course. The prestigious course, which has hosted numerous PGA Tour and NCAA tournaments, is situated near the Santa Catalina Mountains that surround Tucson. It was once listed as one of Golf Digest's "75 Best Golf Resorts in North America" and also earned the 2005 World Travel Award as Best Golf Resort in Southwest USA.
The resort features two distinct course: the Catalina Course and the Sonoran Course. Catalina has hosted over 30 PGA Tour Events, including the Chrysler Classic of Tucson and also the National Invitational Tournament. The 2006 NCAA Regionals were held at the Catalina Course. The Sonoran Course was designed by Tom Lehman and opened in December 2005.
THE NATIONAL INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT FIELD The challenging National Invitational Tournament will feature some of the nation's top teams among the 15-squad field. Included in the tournament are two in-state Big 12 rivals, No. 23 Texas and No. 16 Texas A&M. UNLV will enter as the team to beat with a No. 8 ranking, closely followed by No. 9 UCLA. Other teams in the top 25 are No. 18 Tulsa, No. 20 Arizona State and No. 22 Duke. The remaining competitors are No. 27 Arizona, No. 67 Kent State, No. 60 New Mexico, No. 35 Northwestern, No. 38 Pepperdine, No. 30 TCU and No. 34 Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders have already met up against all but Northwestern and have a 6-23-1 record against (.200). Wins have come against Arizona, Texas, Texas A&M and Tulsa.
Note: Host Arizona will be playing two squads.
2006 NATIONAL INVITATIONAL In last year's edition of the National Invitational Tournament, Texas Tech did not take part in the event. One of the top-ranked teams in this year's field, UCLA, titled the event last year with low rounds of 277-285-288--850 to finish 14-under par. New Mexico's then-senior Jay Choi took the individual title with rounds of 69-70-71--210, 6-under.
THE LAST TEE While the Red Raiders faced another tough field in Austin, Texas, for the Morris Williams Intercollegiate, Texas Tech finished in a three-way tie for ninth place among 14 competitors. The Red Raiders finished with rounds of 297-292--589 in the 36-hole tournament that was cut short due to persistent rainy weather in the Austin area.
Texas Tech finished without an individual in the top 20 for only the second time during the 2006-07 season, as the top Red Raider tied for 23rd. Sophomore Santiago Rivas led Tech with scores of 74-72--146, 2-over-par, to tie for 23rd, his highest finish of the year. Senior Oscar Floren started strong as he was tied for seventh after the first round, but finished with an over-par round in the second to fall in the standings. Floren carded rounds of 71-77--148 to tie for 38th.
Teammates Matt Smith and Garrett Merrell each ended the event with identical rounds of 76-73--149 to tie for 42nd place. The finish sits as Smith's top career finish in his short time that he has been a member of the Red Raider program. Will Griffin tied for 52nd after turning in rounds of 76-74--150, 6-over par. Competing as an individual in his first spring tournament was Jeremy Martin, as he tied for 63rd after shooting 76-76--152.
LEADING THIS TEAM Judging by the spring results, it is difficult for one to determine who could identified as the leader of this Red Raider squad. After three tournaments, Texas Tech has had three different individuals lead the team in terms of top finish and lowest strokes.
During the spring opener, sophomore Jake Younan-Wise took over as the leader of the team as he finished in a tie for 12th, his third top-20 finish of the year. The Australia native turned in rounds of 69-66-68--203 (-7) to mark his career 18-, 36- and 54-hole low.
At the USC Collegiate nearly one month ago, senior Oscar Floren stepped up to take the role that is most suited for his as the lone upperclassman on the team. He led the team with a 20th-place finish, marking the 25th of his remarkable Red Raider career. The Sweden native carded rounds of 74-74-69--217 to finish 4-over par.
In the most recent tournament of the spring, Santiago Rivas took his turn at leading the team, becoming the first time in his six events he has led during the 2006-07 season. At the Morris Williams, Rivas tied for 23rd, his top finish this year, after turning in rounds of 74-72--146 to finish 2-over par.
Players Mentioned
