Bearkats win All-American Intercollegiate

HOUSTON - The Sam Houston men's golf team were wire-to-wire winners at the All-American Intercollegiate at Golf Club of Houston this week. In the process, Jack Randle claimed his first individual championship of his college career.

The Kats were 12-under par as a team on Tuesday and finished 24-under for the tournament to defend their championship. They beat Wake Forest, the 8^th-ranked team in the country, by four shots, topping a 13-team field that included No. 30 South Carolina and No. 32 Houston.

In addition to Randle taking the individual title, three other Bearkats finished in the top five, with Luis Carrera taking second while playing as an individual, Noah Steele was tied for 3rd and Ting-Wei Hsieh finished tied for 5^th.

"This was a huge win for our program," said head coach Brandt Kieschnick. "The guys were locked in each round and just focused on the task at hand. To go head to head with Wake Forest, who is such a great program, is huge for us and you have to have your best stuff to come out on top. The guys played their hearts out. We've had a month to get ready for this event and the guys have worked very hard in some tough weather and we continue to grow mentally stronger each week."

Randle, a sophomore from The Woodlands, shot a 66 on Tuesday, jumping to the top of the leader board after starting the day in a tie for third. The round is also the lowest of his Bearkat career by three shots. He got off to a strong start to the day and never looked by. He birdied his first and third holes of the day and made the turn at 4-under par. After back-to-back birdies on No. 15 and 16, he closed out his bogey-free day with two pars to clinch the title by three shots over Carrera.

Carrera, who was leading the tournament heading into Tuesday, kept himself in contention with pars on his first six holes, and made the turn at 9-under with the lead. But two bogeys on his first three holes of the back nine opened the door for Randle. Carrera, birdied his second to last hole to move into second place on his own.

For Steele, he steadily got better as the tournament went on. After a 72 on Sunday, he shot 70 on Monday and closed with a 67. His round included six birdies, dropping a stroke just once on the day. Steele did his damage on the par 4's where he was 7-under for the tournament, which led the 81-player field.

Hsieh was consistent all week for the Kats, staying in the top 5 each day. He closed the tournament with a 1-under 71 on Tuesday. In just his sixth collegiate tournament, it's his best finish, after a 10^th place showing at the Sam Hall in the opening event of the year.

Also for the Bearkats, Grayson Blunt shot an even-par round to finish 32^nd overall and William Holcomb finished 54^thafter a 75 on Tuesday.

The Bearkats will be back in action in two weeks when they head to Laredo to take part in the Border Olympics.

Bearkats win All-American Intercollegiate

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Players Mentioned

Grayson Blunt

Luis Carrera

William Holcomb

Ting-Wei Hsieh

Jack Randle

Noah Steele

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