Texas Tech Athletics
El Macero Classic
Red Raiders Take El Macero Team Title
April 17, 2016 | Men's Golf
Texas Tech, powered by three top-5 finishes, won the team championship at the El Macero Classic on Sunday.
April 17, 2016
EL MACERO, Calif.. -- The Texas Tech men's golf team wrapped up the 2015-16 regular season by winning the team championship at the El Macero Classic, in El Macero, Calif., on Sunday afternoon.RED RAIDERS WIN! Tech takes the El Macero Classic title, the 17th tourney win under Head Coach @Sandsman14! #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/dwurBC4Dmn
- Texas Tech Mens Golf (@TTUMensGolf) April 17, 2016
The Red Raiders (+12) earned their 17th team tournament title under head coach Greg Sands, and 12th in the last nine seasons. Tech was led by Federico Zucchetti, Hurly Long and Ivan Ramirez, who each finished at +1 for the tournament, tied for third.
Tech was the only school to place three players in the top 10 this weekend. The Red Raiders put the finishing touches on the win with a 2-over 290 on Sunday, their best round of the weekend, including going 1-under as a team on the back nine.
"It is always nice to win," Sands said. "I thought our first round really propelled us through the last two days. When you have three guys play the way Federico [Zucchetti], Hurly [Long] and Ivan [Ramirez] did, you will be successful."
The Red Raiders were a model of consistency this weekend, being the only team to card scores under 300 in all three rounds, coming in at 295 or better each day. Tech also held the overall lead after all three rounds, and a Red Raider had at least a share of the individual lead after the first and second rounds.
Tech's lead was 12 shots after the first day, six after the second, and ended as an eight-shot margin.
After finishing Saturday's round on an absolute tear with a 32 on the final nine, Ramirez continued his roll early in the final round with a birdie on 5. He had the individual lead for much of the final round, but went one-over on the back nine to slide into the tie for third.
Zucchetti briefly had the overall individual lead late in the round thanks to birdies on 14, 15 and 17, but a double bogey on the par-5 18th dropped him into the eventual tie for third.
Long had the low round of the day for Tech, a 2-under 70. He birdied 15 and 18 to finish the tournament strong and help ensure the Red Raider victory.
"This is a big confidence boost for us heading into the conference championship," Sands said. "This is the time of the season you want to be playing your best golf, and I can't wait to keep it going."
The Red Raiders will return to action April 29-May 1 at the Big 12 Championships, held at Whispering Pines Golf Club, in Trinity, Texas.
For more information on Texas Tech men's golf, fans can follow the program on its social media outlets on Facebookand Twitter.
Here is the final leaderboard and scorecard from the 12th #TexasTech tourney title in the last 9 years. #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/lCdZSucs9J
- Texas Tech Mens Golf (@TTUMensGolf) April 17, 2016
