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Sports

Cougars will look to get groove back 

by JONG LEE
The Daily Cougar

The Cougars hope to bounce back from a sixth-place finish they suffered in the Border Olympics at the Laredo Country Club at the UALR/First Tee Collegiate Classic in Little Rock, Ark., on Monday and Tuesday. 

The Border Olympics was the first time this spring the team did not finish first in a tournament. 

Last season, the Cougars went into Little Rock and put together a nice outing. Houston managed to capture second in overall team score with a total of 889, only one stroke away from winner Arkansas State.

The Cougars stood second after the first day of play in Arkansas. They shot 289 -- tops in the morning session. However, the UH fell behind, shooting 296 in the afternoon session. The team finished the first two sessions with a score of 585, only two strokes away from Sam Houston State with one more round to play. 

Individually, Houston did well on the first day, getting two players into the top 10. Kevin Newman, then a junior, shot 71 and 73 for the two sessions, tying him fifth after the first day. Junior Zach Mowbray had a strong performance, shooting 73 and 72 respectively, finishing tied for seventh after Day 1.

Entering the second day of play -- the Cougars looked to take the first place win. However, Houston was only able to shoot a 304 to keep the team at second. Arkansas State shot a 300 to leap-frog both Sam Houston State and Houston and capture the win. Newman and freshman Jordan Irwin, who sprung up from 21st, did finish in the top 10, shooting 77 and 73 respectively for Day 2. Newman ended the tournament with a total score of 221 and Irwin finished at 222. Mowbray slipped to 22nd after shooting 80.

This time, the Cougars are coming off somewhat of a longer break than usual. They competed at the Border Olympics on Friday and Saturday, finishing the 54-hole event with a score of 883, placing them sixth overall. Baylor University won the event, shooting 855. The Cougars did finish three strokes ahead of rival Rice University.

Only Newman finished in the top 10, posting a 215 to tie for fifth. While junior Pablo Acuna finished with a tie for 14th, shooting 281. Junior Ricky Romano tied for 45th with a score of 224. Irwin and Mowbray finished tied for 51st and tied for 79th respectively. Irwin shot a 226 and Mowbray a 239.

The UALR Golf Team and the First Tee of Arkansas are combining efforts to raise money for charity. The event will be held at the Chenal Country Club; the Cougars will be one of 16 teams in the event and proceeds will be split between the two organizations.
 

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