Four Tech Golfers Named to PING Regional Team
June 10, 2009 | Men's Golf
June 10, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - After leading No. 20 Texas Tech to its third NCAA Championships appearance in four seasons, four Red Raider golfers were named to the PING Central Region Team Tuesday in a vote by members of the Golf Coaches Association of America.
Chris Ward, Garrett Merrell, Nils Floren and Santiago Rivas were among the 25 players named to the regional team after helping lead Tech to one of its best seasons in school history. For seniors Merrell and Rivas, the Championships marked their second and third, respectively. Rivas is the only golfer in Texas Tech history to have played in three NCAA Championships.
Floren led the Red Raiders with a 72.8 stroke average on the season and was named to the All-Big 12 Conference team after posting three top five finishes in the spring. Additionally, Floren was among the top two Tech golfers in order of finish in six of eight tournaments in the spring.
Ward averaged 73.8 strokes per round and picked up his first collegiate win at the UTSA Intercollegiate in February, after carding an 11-under 202, eclipsing Floren in second place by three strokes. Merrell checked in with 73.4 strokes per round, while Rivas averaged 74.0 strokes. Rivas also earned his first collegiate win at the Ron Smith/USF Intercollegiate in Tampa, Fla., in March.
The Red Raiders will lose two players from the group due to graduation in Merrell and Rivas. Ward and Floren will return to the team next fall as a senior and junior.
