MCKINNEY, Texas – After struggling through the first two days of the Southland Conference Championship, the University of the Incarnate Word men's golf team demonstrated its potential on Wednesday, surging to overtake New Orleans with a strong final round.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cardinals got off to a rough start on Monday and Tuesday, shooting a combined 339 on each day. UIW trailed the Privateers by 11 strokes heading into the final round, but rose on the third day. The Cardinals shot 322 on Wednesday, 17 strokes better than their previous two rounds. UIW finished the tournament with a score of 988 (+124), just edging New Orleans by one stroke.
McNeese won the event with rounds of 302, 306 and 310, for a total of 918 (+54). Stephen F. Austin took second with a score of 922 (+58), while Sam Houston placed third with a 923 (+59).
The individual title was won in dramatic fashion by Albert Badosa-Soler of Nicholls after a six-hole playoff. Badosa-Soler shot 225 in regulation to tie with Houston Baptist's Val Almendarez, who was awarded second. William Holcomb of Sam Houston came in third at the event with a score of 227 (+11).
LEADERS
Caden Wylie led the Cardinals with rounds of 81, 81 and 77 for a total of 239 (+23) to place 26
th.
Jeff Conflitti landed the 37
th spot with rounds of 80, 89 and 78 for a score of 247 (+31).
Remy Huston improved dramatically as the tournament went on, shooting a 94 on Monday, an 84 on Tuesday and a 76 on Wednesday. Huston's 76 was the lowest-scoring round by any UIW player. He finished with a three-day total of 254 (+38) to tie teammate
Cole Solis for 46
th. Solis also consistently improved at the event, turning in rounds of 90, 85 and 79.
Kevin Smith contributed rounds of 88, 93 and 80 to take 50
th with a score of 261 (+45).
QUOTES
OVERALL THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH BRAD MARTIN
"I'm a little disappointed that we didn't play to our potential, which we showed in the last round. But we definitely improved on the last day. It's not what we'd hoped for, because we can do better and we have done better. The guys are better players than we showed at the tournament. But next year is new year and we look forward to winning the Southland Conference Tournament next year!"
UP NEXT
The Cardinals close out the season in Port St. Lucie, Fla. at the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship (May 11-14).
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