Tough course, windy conditions slow TCU golfers
5/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
May 17, 2007
SUGAR GROVE, Ill. - Fortunately for the TCU men's golf team, two rounds of play at the 2007 NCAA Central Regional remain. The Horned Frogs stumbled in round one, shooting a 44-over-par 332 to sit in 25th place at the tournament.
It was a blustery day outside the Windy City, as 10-15 mph winds with gusts around 25 played havoc with the golfers on an already hazardous Rich Harvest Farms layout (par 72, 7,214 yards). Just four of the tournament's 141 participants broke par on the first day of play.
The top 10 teams and the top two individuals among the non-qualifying teams will advance to the NCAA Championships later this month in Williamsburg, Va. Louisville leads the competition after a 6-over 294. TCU is currently 19 strokes off the cut line with 36 holes remaining to be played.
"We're just going to have to play one shot at a time," head coach Bill Montigel said. "We dug ourselves a hole, but as difficult as this course is, anything can happen. Our guys just need to put this round behind them and play golf like they are capable of."
Sophomore Jesse Speirs was the Frogs' top performer, as he posted a 4-over 76. He is currently tied for 25th place after a round that featured four birdies. The Bangor, Maine, product showed his game with back-to-back birdies on the front nine.
After ripping a drive down the center of the fairway, Speirs' approach with a 7-iron on the 495-yard par-4 6th hole left him with an 18-inch putt. He then drained a 5-footer for birdie on the par-3 7th after sticking his 8-iron tight.
Drew Stoltz made the Frogs' only other birdie on the day on the ninth hole. The senior finished with an 86 (+14). TCU's other scores included: Robby Ormand (83), Jon McLean (87) and Travis Woolf (87).
TCU begins second-round action at 7:47 a.m. (CT) Friday. Live hole-by-hole scoring of the tournament is available on www.Golfstat.com.
Team Results
1. Louisville 294 (+6); 2. Texas 303 (+15); 3. Wisconsin 304 (+16); 4. Tulsa 305 (+17); 5. Oklahoma State 306 (+17); T-6. Alabama 306 (+18); T-6. Baylor 306 (+18); T-8. Lamar 313 (+25); T-8. Western Illinois 313 (+25); T-8. Kansas 313 (+25); T-11. Minnesota 314 (+26); T-11. Tennessee 314 (+26); T-13. Colorado 315 (+27); T-13. Texas Tech 315 (+27); 15. Northwestern 316 (+28); T-16. Illinois State 317 (+29); T-16. SMU 317 (+29); T-18. Southeastern Louisiana 319 (+31); T-18. Michigan State 319 (+31); T-18. Nebraska 319 (+31); T-21. Texas A&M 320 (+32); T-21. Purdue 320 (+32); T-21. Oklahoma 320 (+32); 24. Wichita State 331 (+43); 25. TCU 332 (+44); 26. Siena 351 (+63); 27. Texas Southern 357 (+69).
TCU Individual Results
T-25. Jesse Speirs 76 (+4); T-98. Robby Ormand 83 (+11); T-123. Drew Stoltz 86 (+14); T-125. Jon McLean 87 (+15); T-125. Travis Woolf 87 (+15).
Players Mentioned
