|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Rice Thresher
Phone:
|
by JOHN C. CHAO THRESHER STAFF The golf team has steadily improved its level of play throughout the season, and two weeks ago the climb resulted in a season-best second-place overall finish. Last weekend, senior Drew Conrad took the progression to a whole new level. Conrad claimed the first individual championship of his career to lead the Owls to a third-place finish at the Border Olympics in Laredo March 31-April 1. Conrad shot rounds of 71, 73 and 71 to finish with a 1-under par 215, one shot ahead of Baylor University's Jimmy Walker. "Drew has played well the last couple tournaments, and his touch was even better this weekend," head coach Greg Martin said. "He made more putts throughout the tournament and made some tough shots." Conrad, however, was not the only Owl to have a strong showing. Senior C.W. Mallon shot a 6-over 222 to finish in a tie for 11th. Overall, Rice carded an 889, just seven shots behind champion Baylor and three strokes behind second-place Texas A&M University. "Drew played really well this weekend," Martin said. "And Bradley [Lane] and C.W. helped us out a lot also." Lane, a sophomore, said Conrad's win was exciting for the rest of the team as well. "Drew's win was boost for all of us," Lane said. "The whole team was pumped up." Martin said the Owls finished well as a team because they received solid contributions from every player. The same was the case two weeks ago when they finished second at the El Diablo Intercollegiate. "We've had more players shoot scores in the low 70s," Martin said. "In this tournament, we had multiple guys shoot low scores in the rounds and it was fun out there." But Lane said Rice was still not satisfied with its overall finish. He said that had the Owls made fewer mistakes during the second round, they would have had a better chance of actually winning the team title. "We didn't play well in the second round, and I think that cost us more than the last couple holes of the final round," Lane said. "But you also have to take into consideration that Baylor is a Top 20 team." Nevertheless, the Owls believe the encouraging team and individual results can only help them as the season grinds on. "This finish gives us positives which we can continue to build on," Martin said. "Good feelings are contagious, and our guys are feeling better, more confident and more enthusiastic. When you are successful, you want to work harder and you will have a better attitude." Lane agreed, saying the team's confidence is at an all-time high. "Our confidence level has been raised," Lane said. "We always thought we could compete and we always thought that we were as good as the people we tee against. Now we can prove it." The Owls return to action next week when they compete in the Sam Houston State Bearkat Classic at the Bentwater Country Club in Montgomery. The tournament will be their final tune-up before the Western Athletic Conference Championships, which will be held May 1-3 in Lewisville. - back - |
|
|
Search the Thresher pages:
This document may be distributed electronically, provided that it is distributed in its entirety and includes this notice. However, it cannot be reprinted without the express written permission of: The Rice Thresher, Rice University MS-524, PO Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251-1892, USA. The Thresher Online Project -- ethresh@listserv.rice.edu |
