The KSU men’s golf team’s first spring tournament of 2013 was played Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 28 and 29, at the Arizona Intercollegiate in Tucson, AZ on the Golf Club at Vistoso.
Unfortunately, the expected sunny “Zona” weather did not cooperate. Frigid 35-degree temperatures combined with wind gusts of over 30 mph must have made the players feel as if they were in a Georgia event in January.
”The conditions out in Arizona were difficult, but our guys have experience in this kind of weather so adjusting was not a challenge for them,” said KSU head coach Jay Moseley.
With the grueling conditions and an impressive field, the Owls fought hard and managed to finish in seventh place out of fifteen teams with a total score of 871(+19), despite opening the tournament Monday morning with a team score of 287(+21). This was KSU’s second lowest team score of the season, behind 860 (-4), the score posted in their 24-stroke romp at the Pinetree Intercollegiate to wrap up the fall season in late October.
KSU was led in Tucson by senior Peder Hermansson, who placed seventh individually with a stellar 54-hole score of 3 under par, one of only 10 out of a 92-player field to finish the tournament in red figures. Sophomore Jimmy Beck, a player Coach Moseley has been most impressed by his play this season, had another solid performance, opening the first two rounds on Monday with 72 and finishing tied for 24th at 6 over par.
“Jimmy has been very consistent over the course of the season and has the right tools to get better in the future,” Moseley said.
Sophomore Austin Vick (+8, 37th) and Senior Ben Greene (+10, 45th) had strong final rounds on Tuesday, both shooting even par 71 and securing the Owls a top 7 finish. Junior Jonathon Klotz wrapped up the squad with a tie for 62nd finish and a score of 227(+14).
The event took on added significance with two of the nations top ranked schools participating. New Mexico entered the Arizona Intercollegiate as the fourth ranked team in the country. A late scoring mishap by Texas Christian University granted the Lobos the victory. The most notable team in the field was University of California, who are ranked first in the nation The Bears ran the table in the fall season by going undefeated, a rarity in college golf. With four players ranked in the collegiate top 25, California is loaded. The team’s streak of wins, however, was snapped last week by placing third in this event. Fourth place went to the Arizona State University Sun Devils. Tim Mickelson, the brother of four-time major champion/California tax expert Phil Mickelson, coaches ASU. Rounding out the top 5 were the tournament hosting University of Arizona Wildcats.
The Swinging Owls return to the east coast somewhat satisfied with their play in the cold desert, but Coach Moseley knows that improvements can be made.
“The team as a whole needs to be more accurate off the tee and hole more putts,” Moseley said. “Once we do that I think we’ll be in very good shape.”
The Black and Gold’s next stop is Gainesville, Fla. this weekend to compete in the 54-hole Gator Invitational on the University of Florida Golf Course. The tournament begins on Saturday, Feb. 9.
