Wildcats Move Up the Board to Tie for Third at the Inverness Club
Sep 17, 2002 | Men's Golf
Sept. 17, 2002
TOLEDO, Ohio - Kansas State head coach Tim Norris said this year's team could play with the best country, and his Wildcats proved him right Tuesday when they tied for third at the Inverness Intercollegiate Invitational at the par-71, 7,255-yard Inverness Club. The 'Cats carded a final round 291 to tie Michigan State with a final team score of 889.
The field featured six teams from last year's NCAA Championships on the legendary Inverness Club course, which has hosted four U.S. Opens, one U.S. Amateur, two PGA Championships and will host the 2003 U.S. Senior Open.
"Inverness was a good, challenging golf course, which is what we are used to," Norris said. "As a result, we didn't panic or lose our composure if we got down a couple of holes. The team fought hard to the end. The team showed patience and played the course the way it is supposed to be played."
Norris said the team proved that they can play with the country's top teams and that should give them confidence throughout the season.
Junior Greg Douglas led the way for the 'Cats throughout the tournament, firing a 74-74-71=219 to finish seventh. Norris said Douglas had a great finish, despite shooting a triple bogey on No. 5. He stayed with the game plan and posted a strong round.
Joining Douglas in the top-20 were junior co-captains Aaron Watkins and A.J. Elgert. Watkins shot a 221 to tie for 12th, while Elgert carded a 222 to tie for 16th. Also competing for the Wildcats was sophomore Matt Van Cleave, who tied for 45th at 231, and freshman Josh Persons, who tied for 59th at 236.
Florida took home the team title, posting a 288-303-287=878, to claim a nine-stroke victory over Oklahoma State, who shot a 306-294-287=887. The Gator's Camilo Villegas and Fresno State's Nick Watney tied for medalist honors at 2-over-par 215.
The Wildcats return to action on their home turf at the Jim Colbert Intercollegiate on Sept. 30 - Oct. 1. For complete results of the Inverness Intercollegiate Invitational please visit Toledo's website at www.utrockets.com.
Team Scores: 1. Florida 878. 2. Oklahoma State 887. t3. Kansas State 889. t3. Michigan State 889. 5. Toledo 891. 6. Georgia 893. 7. Fresno State 896. 8. Illinois 901. 9. Northwestern 906. 10. Kansas 909. 11. Long Beach State 910. 12. Kent State 912. 13. Kentucky 918. 14. Notre Dame 924. 15. Alabama-Birmingham 942.
Top Individuals: t1. Nick Watney, Fresno State, 215. t1. Camilo Villegas, Florida, 215. t3. Tom Johnson, Northwestern, 217. t3. Alex Noren, Oklahoma State, 217. t3. James Lepp, Illinois, 217.
Wildcat Individuals: 7. Greg Douglas 74-74-71=219. t12. Aaron Watkins 74-75-72=221. t16. A.J. Elgert 79-71-72=222. t45. Matt Van Cleave 77-74-80=231. t70. Josh Persons 80-80-76=236.
