Texas A&M is three for three this year
(Texas A&M Athletics Photo)
HARTFORD, WI (October 3, 2017) - No. 1 Texas A&M has played three tournaments this year and they have won them all, the latest coming Wednesday at the Marquette Intercollegiate. The scariest part? They have won all of them without Cameron Champ in the lineup.
Playing at Erin Hills Golf Club, the host of the 2017 U.S. Open, Texas A&M was the only team under-par during the final round as they finished 2-over and 11 shots clear of second place UCLA. The Aggies and Bruins were neck and neck much of the day before Texas A&M pulled away late.
Host Marquette took third at 15-over, No. 24 Florida State was fourth at 23-over while Michigan State placed fifth at 30-over.
The Aggies, 2-under on Wednesday, were led on the final day by Josh Gliege who closed with a 4-under 68 to finish tied for third at 2-under. Gliege, a sophomore, began his day quickly with birdies on each of the first two holes thus setting the tone for his day. Although a bogey followed on No. 3 Gliege only dropped one more shot the rest of the day while carding four more birdies, including two on the final two holes to bookmark his round with consecutive circles.
Texas A&M was boosted throughout the tournament by the play of two other top-10 finishers in seniors Chandler Phillips and Andrew Paysse. Both players ended up tied for sixth at 1-over.
In the medalist chase the honors were shared by Harry Ellis of Florida State and Austin Kendziorski of host Marquette.
Ellis, the 2017 British Amateur champion, played a steady final shooting an even-par 72 to finish 3-under for the tournament. The title was the first collegiate victory for All-ACC performer from a year ago.
Kendziorski, who led alone at the start of the final round, struggled early in the round falling all the way back to 1-under after starting the day 5-under before surging late. The junior who only played in two events last year started his run with birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 to return 3-under only to drop a stroke with a birdie on the ensuing hole. Now needing a circle on the closing par-5 to earn a share of the title Kendziorski dug deep rolling in a birdie on the 675-yard closing hole.
Behind Ellis and Kendziorski in the individual race came Hidetoshi Yoshihara (UCLA) and Gliege in a tie for third at 2-under while Braden Thornberry (Ole Miss) was fifth at 1-under.
Thornberry had been making a bid for his third straight individual title dating back to his win at the NCAA Championships last season but he shot a 2-over 75 in the last round.
ROUND TWO RECAP
Playing at the site of this year's U.S. Open, Erin Hills Golf Course, top-ranked Texas A&M has risen to the top of the leaderboard. If the Aggies can hold on to the lead they will win their third event in three tries this season.
On Monday the Aggies put together a 1-under second round and at 4-over they hold a one shot advantage over UCLA who at 5-over is in second place. Host Marquette is third at 10-over, No. 24 Florida State sits in fourth at 12-over while in fifth it is Michigan State at 17-over.
Related: Gig 'em! Texas A&M is College Golf's New Number One
With Cameron Champ out of the line up this week, he finished T32 in the U.S. Open in June at Erin Hills, it is freshman Reese Ramsey leading the Texas A&M charge.
Ramsey is currently even-par following rounds of 71-73 and he will begin Tuesday's final round tied for fifth.
Also in the top-15 for Texas A&M are Chandler Phillips (T10; +1), Andrew Paysse (T10; +1) and Josh Gliege (T12; +2).
Pacing the medalist race is Austin Kendziorskio of host Marquette. One day after posting a 5-under 67 the Golden Eagle carded a level-par 72 in the second round to remain 5-under. Kendziorskio started on the back-nine and turned in 1-over 37 following a birdie on the 14th and double-bogey on the 15th.
On his second nine Kendziorskio rediscovered some of his grove from the day before carding birdies on Nos. 1 and 6 while dropping just one shot.
Kendziorskio will know be charged with holding off among others Braden Thornberry. The Ole Miss junior moved into a tie for second place with a 2-under 70 and he will begin the final round 3-under and two behind. Thornberry will be in search of his second win of the season and third consecutive collegiate victory dating back to his individual title at the NCAA Championships.
Sharing second place with Thornberry is Florida State's Harry Ellis, in fourth comes the 2-under Eddy Lai of UCLA while five others share fifth at 1-under.
ABOUT THE
54 hole men's college tournament hosted by
Marquette
University. Team (best four scores out of five
players
each round) and individual competitions.
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