Texas Tech Athletics
Shoal Creek Invitational
Tech Finishes Shoal Creek with Win
September 25, 2007 | Men's Golf
Sept. 25, 2007
LUBBOCK, Texas - The No. 18 Texas Tech men's golf team enjoyed a great day Tuesday by winning the Shoal Creek Intercollegiate in Birmingham, Ala. and moving up four spots to No. 18 in the latest rankings released by Golfweek. Sophomore Will Griffin birdied the last two holes to tie for first and pick up his first medal and event wins of his career.
The Red Raiders, previously ranked No. 22, finished Shoal Creek with a nine-over 873 to take home first-place honors and give them their first event win since March 2006, when they won the Hyatt Plantation Club Intercollegiate. Host Alabama Birmingham finished five-shots back in second place, while No. 6 Auburn finished seven back in third. No. 15 Oklahoma, the only other Big 12 team competing, finished tied for fifth at 14 back. No. 23 LSU and No. 25 Michigan State finished seventh and 10th, respectively.
"I was proud of the effort," Tech coach Greg Sands said. "On a championship course like that (Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club), it was a good test. I was pleased."
Griffin improved on his third-place showing from the first day with a two-under 70 to finish at three-under 213 and tie for first place with UAB's Brad Smith. Sophomore Matt Smith and freshman Sergio Franky each shot a four-over 220 to tie for 10th place and mark the first event since 2006 that three Tech golfers have finished in the top 10. Franky also tied for the lowest-round score of the event with his 68 in the second round. Santiago Rivas, seven-over 223, and Garrett Merrell, 14-over 230, rounded off the Red Raiders' showing.
Tech held a five-stroke lead heading into the final 18 holes of play Tuesday, and finished with the third-best round of the day at seven-over 295 to finish off the win. With their finish ahead of Auburn and Oklahoma at Shoal Creek, the Red Raiders have now finished in front of six teams that have been ranked in the Top 25 this season.
"It is hard to play with a lead," Sands said. "We handled it well."
Sands' squad will have some time off before heading back to Birmingham to take part in the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate on Oct. 8-9.
Players Mentioned
