The Texas A&M Golf team had it all going into Sunday’s final round of the Aggie Invitation at Traditions Golf Club, from a 15-shot lead, to an ever-important home course advantage. But along the way the high-flying Aggies came to grips with a team on a mission – the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
The Red Radiers, who were seemingly out of the tournament after the first two rounds, fired an unheard-of 12-under-par 276 in the final round to claim the title in dramatic fashion.
“I think this is the best single-round performance of the year,” Tech head coach Greg Sands said. “We were more consistent at the Morris Williams (2nd place, April 3-4 in Austin), although we didn’t win. Definitely to win in this field was a great performance. It was the most dramatic and best final round we have played in my six years as head coach.”
Texas Tech junior Oscar Floren led the Red Raiders’ charge, firing a final round score of 6-under par 66 to claim the individual title over Baylor’s Ryan Baca by three-shots. Tech senior Andrew Dresser also helped pace the Red Raider attack, as he fired a final round 4-under-par 68 and finished in a tie for fifth place.
Going into the final round, Sands said he knew his team was still in the tournament but also knew that only a spotless final round would be good enough.
“We talked last night about, `We can still do this thing, but it’s going to take something special,'” Sands said. “Ultimately we knew we had beat each guy by four strokes to erase the deficit. Jake (Younan-Wise) and Oscar went bogey-less on the day and I think Andrew only had two. It was just a team effort.”
The Aggies, who shot a final round 292, did not look like a team that came unraveled at the seams, but more like a team that got beat by a Tech squad that could not err.
A&M head coach J.T. Higgins credited Tech with a championship-like performance on a course that most consider to be one of the toughest collegiate tracks in the Southwest.
“We didn’t play great but we didn’t play that bad either,” Higgins said. “You have to tip your hat to Texas Tech. They played a tremendous round of golf. Any team that shoots 12-under on this golf course is a deserving champion.”
A&M finished the tournament with three players in the top 10, including senior Andrew Parr and freshman Bronson Burgoon who each shot under par in the final round to finish in third and a tie for seventh respectively. Sophomore Bobby Gates, the second round leader at 142, finished in a tie for seventh place after firing a final round 76.
Competing as individuals for A&M, junior Chris Massoletti tied for 21st (226), sophomore Kris Devlin tied for 44th (233), sophomore Trey Todd tied for 50th (234) and junior Dillon Gooch finished 66th (247).