Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Big 12 Conference Championships
Ward Increases Lead at Big 12 Championships
April 24, 2010 | Men's Golf
April 24, 2010
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech posted the lowest team score of the third round with a 4-under 284 and moved within four shots of the lead heading into Sunday's final round at the Big 12 Conference Championships at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas. Chris Ward carded his third-straight round of under-par golf with a 1-under 71 and takes a two-stroke lead into the final round.
Following a 2-over par front nine, Ward added a bogey at No. 10, before closing out with his second eagle of the tournament at No. 12 and back-to-back birdies on the 16th and 17th holes. Ward also fired under-par rounds of 69 and 65 in the first two, respectively. With Tech off of the course and awaiting the final groups to come in, Texas' Bobby Hudson approached the 18th hole tied with Ward, but suffered a double bogey at the par-4 hole and is two shots back.
The lowest score of the four turned in on the day for the Red Raiders was an even-par round shot by Tyler Weworski, who is tied in 31st place. Nils Floren also ranks among the top 10 in a ninth-place tie after firing a 1-under 71 Saturday. Matt Smith added his second-straight round of 70 and is tied in 12th place, while Brian Scherer is tied in 44th place after shooting a 78.
"Those four guys played solid," Tech Head Coach Greg Sands said of the top four scorers for the Red Raiders. "The wind blew today and there were some holes playing really tough - and we played them well into the wind. At one point Chris (Ward) was 3-over and he eagled and turned a good round into a better one."
The Red Raiders climbed a spot in the third round, leapfrogging tournament host and No. 5 Texas A&M, which shot a 4-over 292. Tech trails No. 7 Texas by two strokes and tournament leader No. 3 Oklahoma State by four. The four teams at the top are the only under-par teams remaining in the field and are followed by Kansas State (+5), No. 50 Baylor (+12), Colorado (+24), Nebraska (+25), Oklahoma (+33), Iowa State (+41), Missouri (+43) and Kansas (+44).
"There are four really good teams that separate each other," Sands added. "One of those four teams is going to play really well tomorrow. We have played consistent throughout the tournament, while the other teams have had one really good round. We are due for a really good one."
Final round play gets underway Sunday morning. Texas Tech will tee off with Oklahoma State and Texas at 8:50 a.m. CT. Live scoring will be available throughout the event at www.golfstat.com.
Players Mentioned
