Red Raiders at Dr Pepper Tanglewood Invitational
March 24, 2000 | Men's Golf
March 24, 2000
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech's men's golf team competes in the 2000 Dr Pepper Tanglewood Invitational Sat., March 25, through Sun., March 26. The 54-hole event will take place at the 6,953-yard, par 72 Tanglewood Resort in Pottsboro, Texas, and is hosted by Northern Illinois University.
The tournament is the second of the spring season for Texas Tech, which finished 14th out of 18 teams at the University of Michigan Wolverine South Invitational in Savannah, Ga., two weeks ago. Texas Tech Director of Golf Jeff Mitchell sees the Tanglewood Invitational as a measuring stick for NCAA Tournament play.
"We are getting into the stretch run," Mitchell said. "We are in position to make the NCAA Regionals if we play well in the next few tournaments. It all starts with our tournament at Tanglewood Resort. The field includes Texas-Arlington, a strong rival for us in District 6. A top four or five finish and being ahead of UTA will be very important for us."
How well the team finishes may come down to the play of Tech's top three golfers, all newcomers. Sophomore transfer David Bolen is averaging 74.6 strokes per round and narrowly trails freshman and team leader Mark Hull, who averages 74.5 strokes. The other freshman Red Raider, Trey Pyka, checks in at 75.7 strokes.
"David Bolen and Mark Hull are having good years," Mitchell said. "A few shots here or there and they are going to be in the running for All-Conference. They are a huge part of our success. Corey Henegar won the last event we competed in during the fall and has been playing well. It is imperative that we get strong performances from them."
Henegar is averaging 76.2 strokes and is one of two Tech golfers this year to win a tournament. Henegar won the Hal Sutton Invitational in Shreveport, La., in the fall, while Pyka won in his first collegiate outing at the Crown Classic in Lufkin last fall.
Tournament Field
University of Minnesota (Defending Champion)
University of Akron
Ball State University
University of Illinois
University of Indiana
University of Iowa
Kent State University
Marshall University
University of Michigan
Michigan State University
Northern Illinois University
Penn State University
Purdue University
University of Texas-Arlington
Texas Tech University
University of Toledo
Wichita State University
University of Wisconsin