Feb. 10, 2004
Contact: Kyle Stephens (210) 458-4907 Roadrunners
come back from four strokes down to win Rice Intercollegiate
by five
CYPRESS, Texas - Led by senior Mike Mezei's third-place
individual finish, the UTSA men's golf team came from four
strokes down to win the Rice Intercollegiate team title
by five shots Tuesday at BlackHorse Golf Club (par 72, 7,301
yards).
Entering the day four strokes back of second-round leader
Denver, the Roadrunners made up more than enough ground
for the team's third win of the 2003-04 year under cold
and wet conditions. UTSA carded a final round 307, the second-best
round Tuesday, to finish at 298-290-307=895 (+31). Denver
shot 316 Tuesday and fell into a tie for second with Notre
Dame - who turned in the day's low round of 303 - at 900
(+36). North Texas finished fourth (902), followed by Stephen
F. Austin (911), Mississippi State (912) and Texas State
(915).
"What a treat to come out in our first spring tournament
and win," fourth-year head coach Chris Donielson said.
"After winning two tournaments in the fall, to be able
to pick back up where we left off is more than you could
ask for. I'm really happy for the guys, and it's nice to
know we beat a solid field with teams like Notre Dame, Virginia,
Mississippi State and San Diego."
Individually, Mezei (Lethbridge, Alberta) stayed in the
hunt for medalist honors the entire tournament. After shooting
even-par 144 (72-72) through the first two rounds, he fired
a one-over-par 73 Tuesday to finish third at 217, two shots
back of individual winner Barrett Jarosch of Denver (215).
Brad Gibson of North Texas was second (216).
"Mike just played terrific under terrible conditions,"
Donielson said. "He was in the thick of things until
the end."
Sophomore Ryan Cromwell (Buda, Texas) was UTSA's second-highest
finisher, tying for 13th after shooting rounds of 72, 74
and 79 to finish at nine-over-par 225. Freshman Kitt Thabungkan,
playing as an individual, also tied for 13th with rounds
of 72, 76 and 77.
Freshman Matt Johnston (Winnipeg, Manitoba) tied for 23rd
at 80-72-77=229 (+13). Senior Luke Healy (Del Rio, Texas)
tied for 33rd at 78-72-82=232 (+16) and sophomore John Elizondo
(San Antonio, Texas/Brackenridge) tied for 42nd at 76-79-78=233
(+17).
Rice Intercollegiate
BlackHorse Golf Club (par 72, 7,301 yards)
Cypress, Texas
Team Standings: 1. UTSA 298-290-307=895 (+31); T2. Denver
290-294-316=900 (+36); T2. Notre Dame 308-289-303=900
(+36); 4. North Texas 302-291-309=902 (+38); 5. Stephen
F. Austin 309-294-308=911 (+47); 6. Mississippi State
305-293-314=912; 7. Texas State 298-296-321=915; 8. Virginia
301-303-312=916; 9. Louisiana-Lafayette 303-295-320=918;
T10. Sam Houston State 312-293-316=921; T10. San Diego
305-298-318=921; 12. Rice 309-303-310=922; 13. Texas-Arlington
310-299-317=926; 14. Texas-Pan American 312-319-322=953.
Individual Standings (Top five plus UTSA players): 1.
Barrett Jarosch, Denver 71-72-72=215 (-1); 2. Brad gibson,
North Texas 73-70-73=216 (E); 3. Mike Mezei, UTSA 72-72-73=217
(+1); T4. James Love, Denver 70-69-79=218 (+2); T4. Tom
Balderston, Notre Dame 78-68-72=218 (+2); T13. Ryan Cromwell,
UTSA 72-74-79=225 (+9); T13. Kitt Thabungkan*, UTSA 72-76-77=225
(+9); T23. Matt Johnston, UTSA 80-72-77=229 (+13); T33.
Luke Healy, UTSA 78-72-82=232 (+16); T42. John Elizondo,
UTSA 76-79-78=233 (+17).
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