Texas Tech Athletics
Big 12 Conference Championships
Merrell, Ward Post Top Five Finishes
April 27, 2008 | Men's Golf
April 27, 2008
TRINITY, Texas - Garrett Merrell and Chris Ward finished third and fourth, respectively, at the Big 12 Conference Men's Golf Championships, leading Texas Tech to a third-place finish for the second year in a row. The two third-place showings are the highest finishes for Texas Tech since the league's inception in 1996.
Merrell and Ward both entered Sunday's final round at Whispering Pines Golf Course in Trinity, Texas, among the top five and maintained their positions and were unable to catch Oklahoma State's Rickie Fowler, who ran away with medalist honors after shooting 9-under for the event. OSU's Kevin Tway finished second at 5-under, followed by Merrell and Ward at 3- and 1-under. Merrell posted a 2-over 74 in the final round, while Ward carded a 75.
With the threat of rain hovering much of the round, it was the wind that wreaked havoc on the field, and it reflected in the scores. The 12 participants posted nine rounds in the 280s during the first three rounds, but none were able to hit the mark Sunday. Oklahoma State turned in the day's low round with a 291, while Texas Tech struggled with a 299 that dropped the Red Raiders from the second-place position they held entering the final round. Texas' 293 was enough to move the Longhorns into second place.
Oklahoma State (1,141) finished 20 strokes ahead of second-place Texas (1,161) and 24 strokes in front of Texas Tech (1,165). Texas A&M (1,178) and Baylor (1,191) finished fourth and fifth, while Kansas (1,194), Oklahoma (1,200), Kansas State (1,202), Iowa State (1,206), Colorado (1,208), Nebraska (1,225) and Missouri (1,237) rounded out the field.
Santiago Rivas narrowly missed the top ten for the Red Raiders, shooting back-to-back par or better rounds to finish in an 11th-place tie. Rivas posted a 72 in the final round and finished the event at 4-over par. Will Griffin tied in 31st place with a 14-over 302, while Sergio Franky carded a 29-over 317 and finished tied in 52nd place.
For complete results and standings, log-on to www.golfstat.com.
Texas Tech awaits a bid to the NCAA regional round, scheduled May 11-14 at three locations around the country. The NCAA will make the announcements Mon., May 5.
Players Mentioned
