Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Gary Koch Intercollegiate
Red Raiders Hold on to Second
October 04, 2009 | Men's Golf
Oct. 4, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - Following two rounds of under-par golf the No. 17 Texas Tech men's golf team struggled Sunday with a 12-over 300 to slip to second place and finish runner-up at the Gary Koch Intercollegiate at Old Memorial Golf Club in Tampa, Fla.
The Red Raiders entered the final round at 26-under par and holding a four-stroke lead over Florida State. Coupled with Tech's round of 300 and FSU's 8-under 280, the Seminoles overtook the Red Raiders to claim team honors. Virginia and Florida tied in third place at 12-under for the tournament, while North Florida finished fifth.
First-round leader Nils Floren slipped to a 14th-place tie after posting a 76 in the final round, while Chris Ward paced the Red Raiders with another impressive tournament, carding rounds of par or better each day. Ward finished in fifth place with rounds of 69-67-72. Brian Scherer also shot a 76 Sunday to go with earlier rounds of 69-68 to finish tied in 17th place. Matt Smith and Finley Ewing matched scores each round as they finished tied in 39th place with rounds of 68-74-76.
Auburn's Kyle Kopsick claimed medalist honors after turning in a 66 Sunday, three strokes off his tournament low of 63 in the second round.
Augusta State, Auburn, LSU, Georgia Southern and Mississippi finished sixth through 10th, respectively, while Kentucky, East Tennessee State, North Carolina, UAB and South Florida were 11th through 15th.
The Red Raiders continue the fall season Oct. 25 at the Isleworth Collegiate Invitational in Orlando, Fla. The tournament, one of the season's most prestigious events, will be hosted by Texas Tech.
