BRYAN, Texas — The No. 23 Texas A&M men’s golf team wrapped up play at the 2013 Aggie Invitational on Sunday afternoon, finishing in a tie for fifth place.
The Aggies (291-288-291=870) shared the fifth spot in the standings with No. 5 UCLA at six-over par for the tournament held at Traditions Golf Club, while No. 2 Alabama (278-283-285=846) claimed the team title at 18-under par. No. 20 Kent State, No. 6 Washington and No. 17 Arkansas immediately followed the Crimson Tide in the standings.
“We didn’t play very well on the back nine,” Texas A&M head coach J.T. Higgins said. “We had a few bogies on some of the easier holes where you’d expect to have birdie chances and that ended up costing us. Overall, though, six-over for the weekend on this course isn’t too bad.”
No. 8 Duke, No. 15 LSU, No. 30 Oklahoma, No. 13 Oklahoma State, No. 28 North Texas and No. 35 Texas Tech rounded out the leaderboard in sixth through 12th place, respectively.
Alabama’s Cory Whitsett (69-69-70=208) earned top medalist honors by finishing with a three-round total of eight-under par to edge teammates Bobby Wyatt (67-72-70=209) and Scot Strohmeyer (67-71-72=210).
Junior Johannes Veerman (73-69-75=217) ended the event as the Aggies’ highest finisher in a tie for 11thplace, while senior Drew Evans (74-73-71=218) was just a stroke back in a tie for 14th after firing A&M’s lowest round of the day with a one-under par 71.
Redshirt freshman Andrew Lister (73-72-74=219) finished in a tie for 18th to record his first career top-20 finish while sophomore Greg Yates (71-76-73=220) started the day hot with five birdies on the front nine before ending the event tied for 23rd at four-over par.
Senior Cameron Peck (76-74-73=223) finished his run at the tournament at seven-over par to earn a tie for 36th.
“I feel like we’ve gone through some adversity all year, but we’re getting better,” Higgins added. “Every week we’re getting a little bit closer and a little bit better, but it would have been nice to see us finish this round off because I think it would have gone a long way for us.”
The tournament also featured six Aggies playing as individuals with freshman Ben Crancer (74-72-74=220) the highest finisher among the group in a tie for 23rd place.
Additionally, junior Jade Scott (74-75-76=225) finished in a tie for 45th, freshman Adrià Arnaus (77-77-74=228) tied for 53rd, senior Case Cochran (77-77-76=230) tied for 57th, sophomore Ty Dunlap (73-79-80=232) in 66thand junior Ryan Kelley (81-78-76=235) in a tie for 68th.
“Usually, at this time of year our line-up is set in stone and we know who we are taking to postseason, but this year I don’t,” Higgins said. “We’re going to watch the guys play over the next 10 days or so, probably go with the hot hand and roll with whoever is playing the best. We’re just trying to put the best team out there that we can.”
The Aggies are next in action April 19-21 at the SEC Championship which will be held at Sea Island, Ga.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics