Border Olympics
Kats surging, take fourth at Border Olympics
3/13/2016 9:13:00 PM | Men's Golf
On Selection Sunday in college basketball, the topic of conversation is centered on teams that were hot at the right time. In college golf, the same can be held true of teams vying for a postseason opportunity or a chance to earn an automatic bid in the conference tournament.
The Sam Houston State men's golf team helped its cause heading down the stretch, shooting 7-under, 569, during a rain-shortened 36 holes at the Border Olympics at Laredo Country Club over the weekend. The mark tied the Bearkats for fourth with Louisiana in the second-to-last regular season tournament.
“I knew this year we were going to be really young so the plan was to get these guys in our system,” fourth-year head coach Brandt Kieschnick said. “We've proved in the past that we can get big wins and make postseason play. I think you're seeing a game plan coming together.
“Since three weeks ago, we've probably climbed 40 to 50 spots in the rankings. We're still not where want to be yet but right now, my goal is to peak at conference and I think we're right on track.”
The Bearkats finished ahead of five top-100 ranked teams including No. 56 New Mexico State, No. 78 McNeese State, No. 90 UTEP, No. 92 Sacramento State and No. 94 UTSA. Sam Houston finished just two strokes back of Rice (9-under, 567) while Baylor won the event at 20-under, 556.
Sam Houston was led by freshman Mason Weld, who fired a 5-under, 139, to record a career-best sixth-place finish. After shooting an opening-round 70 to match his best 18 holes at the season-opening Sam Hall Intercollegiate, Weld topped it off with a personal-best 69.
“He played fantastic,” Kieschnick said. “I watched him play a lot. He looked completely in control and that's what we are trying to get from our players to be in control of their emotions. I would say that for all five. All five are showing how to play successful on a national level.”
Weld, who surged six spots up the leaderboard, was not the only Bearkat to move up on the second day. Sam Houston's Jesse Massengale (73-70 – 143) shot 1-under, 143, and moved up 10 spots to finish in a tie for 22nd. Likewise, Andrew Ertel (74-69 – 143), who also finished tied with his partner in 22nd, used a stellar second round to move up 16 spots.
The finish was a career-best for Massengale, a redshirt freshman from Conroe, while Erel was successful in following up his 10th-place tie two weeks ago at the Southwestern Jones Invitational with another strong showing.
Along with Weld, the duo tapped in nine birdies between the two rounds, tied for seventh among the 101-member field. As a team, the Kats finished third with 38 birdies, trailing only Houston (41) and Baylor (40). Weld was fifth among the field, shooting 1-under on the courses par-3s.
Elsewhere, sophomore Jake McCrory (73-71 – 144) cracked the top 30, taking 29th at even-par. After finishing outside the top 30 in his first five tournaments, the Deer Park product has now done so in his last three tournaments, including a season-best 25th in his last competition.
Camden DeBonis (78-74 – 152) finished in a six-way tie for 83rd at 8-over, while Jarred Jeter (77-76 – 153), competing as an individual, took a tie for 89th at 9-over.
“That's the second tournament in a row where we finished top five,” Kieschnick said. “We shot our low round of again at 9-under. These young kids have gotten a lot of experience. Everything we've worked for along with the experience is exciting for a young team. I think we are getting better each week and that has shown the last two weeks.”
The Bearkats close out the regular season two weeks from Monday at the Wyoming Cowboy Classic Presented by Cleveland Golf. The two-day event takes place at Whirlwind Golf Club in Phoenix, Ariz., marking the sixth different state the Kats have visited in nine tournaments.
“We've been traveling a lot so the guys are looking forward to a break and getting their school caught up,” Kieschnick said. “Secondly, with that much extra time, we'll do a lot of team stuff and tournament simulation, trying to shoot under par. We are playing well and have time to make our final push. Each year, you have a game plan and it's exciting to see it come together.”
The event will also be the last before the Southland Conference Championship, April 18-20 at the Stonebridge Country Club Dye Course in McKinney. For the latest on the program, and its journey to win a third straight Southland Conference title, visit GoBearkats.com.
