Watkins Leads Wildcats to Ninth at Big 12 Tourney
Apr 29, 2002 | Men's Golf
April 29, 2002
HUTCHINSON, Kan. - The Kansas State men's golf team posted a two-round score of 595 to tie for ninth place after 36 holes of play at the Big 12 Conference Championship being played at the par-70, 6,598-yard Prairie Dunes Golf and Country Club.
"One of our team's best qualities is their ability to hang in there, and today they did just that," said head coach Tim Norris. "It was just a matter of one or two holes, and we could be better."
Sophomore Aaron Watkins led K-State through the day and carded a 2-over-par 142 (72-70) to land in a four-way tie for seventh place. The Mesa, Ariz., native birdied his final hole of the day to post a 70 on his second round for the Wildcats' low round of the day.
Senior Bryan Milberger also made his way into the top 25, posting a two-round total of 148 (75-73) to tie for 23rd. Also competing for the Wildcats were sophomore A.J. Elgert, who tied for 27th with a 149 (78-71), senior Matt Williams, who carded a 156 (78-78) to tie for 50th, and sophomore Bryan Schweizer, who tied for 58th with a 159 (79-80).
Oklahoma led the field over the first two rounds, firing a team score of 3-under-par 557 (283-274). The 283 was a Big 12 record for lowest score in the first round, breaking the old record of 284 by Texas A&M in 2000.
OU's John Kidwell held the individual lead with rounds of 64 and 69 for a 7-under-par total of 133. The 6-under 64 in the first round set the Big 12 Tournament record for lowest score in a round and fell just one stroke short of the course record of 63.
Kidwell's teammate Cody Freeman is in second place with a 5-under-par 135 and Texas' Jason Hartwick is in third with a 3-under 137.
"This course is difficult and requires a lot of patience," Norris said. "Tomorrow we just need to eliminate our mistakes that proved costly today."
The Big 12 Championship concludes with the third round of 18 holes on Tuesday. Tee times begin at 8:00 a.m. off the first and 10th tees.
For complete results of the Big 12 Men's Golf Championship please visit www.big12sports.com or www.TexasSports.com.
BIG 12 MEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
TEAM SCORES (Through 36 of 54 holes)
1. Oklahoma 557; 2. Texas 567; 3. Oklahoma State 574; 4. Baylor 583; 5. Missouri 585; 6. Colorado 590; 7. Texas Tech 591; 8. Iowa State 592; 9. KANSAS STATE 595; 10. Texas A&M 600; 11. Kansas 601; 12. Nebraska 607.
INDIVIDUAL SCORES
1. John Kidwell, Oklahoma, 133; 2. Cody Freeman, Oklahoma, 135; 3. Jason Hartwick, Texas, 137; 4. Anders Hultman, Oklahoma State, 138; 5. Martin Flores, Oklahoma, 140.
Kansas State Scores - T7. Aaron Watkins 142; T23. Bryan Milberger 148; T27. A.J. Elgert 149; T50. Matt Williams 156; T58. Bryan Schweizer 159.
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