March 16, 1999
The Texas A&M men's golf team will play host to the 47th Annual Border Olympics Friday and Saturday at Laredo Country Club.
The nation's second oldest college golf tournament, the Border Olympics was first played in 1952 at Casa Blanca Country Club in Laredo, where it was played until 1984, when it was moved to Laredo Country Club, a par 72, 7,125-yard layout. The tournament will consist of 36 holes on Friday and 18 holes on Sunday for a 54-hole total.
In addition to A&M, the 18-team field will consist of No. 7-ranked Texas, Arkansas, Baylor, Rice, Texas Tech, Washington State, Michigan State, Kent State, Sam Houston State, Southwestern Louisiana, North Texas, Texas-San Antonio, Texas- Arlington, Stephen F. Austin, Southwest Texas State, Central Oklahoma and Texas- Pan American. Baylor is the defending team champion.
"This is always a great tournament and we look forward to playing against a strong field," A&M coach Bob Ellis said. "We are still battling for a regional bid and this is a very important tournament for us. We need a high finish to stay in the hunt for regionals."
Representing A&M will be senior Ryan Palmer (Amarillo), senior Matt Welch (DeSoto), sophomore Casey Cronin (Rockwall), freshman Sean Gilliland (Killeen) and junior Lee Reed (Rigby, Idaho). Sophomore Clay Fullick (Baytown) and freshman Josh McCoy (Perryton) will compete as individuals.
The defending Border Olympics individual champion, Palmer is coming off a strong finish last week at the Louisiana Classics, where he placed third with a four- under-par total of 212, just one stroke behind the co-champions. Last year, he won the Border Olympics title with an eight-under-par total of 208, including a final round 65 that tied the course and school single round record.
Palmer leads the Aggies this season with a 73.80 stroke average, followed by Cronin at 75.35.
"Ryan is really starting to play well and he's always played well in Laredo," Ellis said.