Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
UTSA Intercollegiate
Records Fall at UTSA Intercollegiate
February 18, 2009 | Men's Golf
Feb. 18, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - Everything was working for Texas Tech at the UTSA Intercollegiate this week as four Red Raider finished among the top 10 and another tied for 11th as the squad blistered the field for a 20-stroke win at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio. Sophomore Chris Ward (McKinney, Texas) fired an 11-under 202 to claim medalist honors in the event and his first win as a Red Raider.
Ward carded rounds of 65, 66 and 71 on the par-71 course to lead Texas Tech to its first tournament win since tying for top honors at the Oklahoma Intercollegiate in the 2007 fall season. Ward's opening-round 65 is the fifth-lowest round in school history and the lowest of the season for Texas Tech. His 202 for the tournament tied him in second place with Mark Allen, who shot a 202 at the NMMI Bronco Invitational in 1989.
Freshman Nils Floren (Ljungskile, Sweden) finished second in his second collegiate tournament, carding rounds of 70, 66 and 69. His three-round 205 is tied for the sixth-best round in school history. Senior Garrett Merrell (Dallas/Highland Park) tied in third place with a 210, including rounds of 68 and 69 in the final two. Senior Santiago Rivas (Cali, Colombia) also placed among the top in a sixth-place tie with a 212, while junior Will Griffin (San Antonio/Churchill) tied in 11th place with a 1-over 214. Sophomore Sergio Franky (Bogota, Colombia) played as an individual and finished in 33rd place.
The No. 15 Red Raiders dominated the field with a 28-under par 824 during the three rounds, setting a pair of schools records in the process. The team's total score is two better than the 826 Texas Tech carded at the 2006 Jerry Pate Invitational, while the team's second-round 266 shattered the school single-round mark of 272, set by the 2007 squad at the UH-Hilo Intercollegiate.
Texas-Arlington (844), Texas State (860), Oklahoma (866), Illinois State (867), DePaul (873), Stephen F. Austin (875), Wichita State (877), Sam Houston (887) and Louisiana-Monroe (889) comprise the top 10, respectively, while UTSA (895), Central Arkansas (896), McNeese State (920) and Air Force (929) round out the field.
Texas Tech next competes in the University of South Florida on March 6-8.
Players Mentioned
