May 17, 2001
The Texas A&M men's golf team fired an opening round 291 (+3) and sits in a two-way tie for 2nd place with the No. -30 ranked College of Charleston out of a 27-team field at the 2001 NCAA Central Regional at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla., Thursday.
"We're in good shape," said head coach coach Bob Ellis. "You can't win this tournament in the first round but you sure can put yourself out of it. So, I'm pleased with our play. Our mission is accomplished for the day. It was a solid round but we'll have to come back and play better tomorrow. This course is not easy, but I'm pleased with all of our scores today."
Senior veteran Casey Cronin posted an even-par on the front nine with two birdies and two bogeys and finished 1-under-par on the back nine with one birdie to lead all Aggies with an 18-hole score of 71 (-1) and is tied for 11th place. Sophomore Dwayne Morley, tied for 15th, carded an 18-hole score of 72 (E) on the day after posting a 1-over-par with one birdie and two bogeys on the front nine and a 1-under-par with three birdies and three bogeys on the back nine.
Junior Josh McCoy shot an even-par with two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine and a two-over-par , one birdie and three bogey round on the back nine while freshman Stephen Reed posted an even-par on the front nine with a birdie and a bogey and a two-over par, one birdie and three bogey round on the back nine as both posted 18-hole scores of 74 (+2), good for a tie in 37th place. Freshman Duke Butler opened up with three straight bogeys on the front nine to turn nine holes at 41 (+5) and finished 1-over par on the back nine with a birdie and two bogeys, putting him tied for 102nd, with an 18-hole score of 78 (+6) on the day.
Kent State bolted into the lead late in the first round with a team score of 289 (+1). Texas A&M and No. 30-ranked College of Charleston are tied for 2nd place at 291 (+3).
Only the top 10 teams and two individuals not on those teams will advance to the NCAA Championships at the conclusion of each regional.
Andy Stewart of Kansas shot a new Karsten Creek course record 66 (-6) to lead all individuals on the day. Jon Mills of Kent State is one back at 67 (-5) followed by Texas' John Klauk and Ohio State's Mike Austin with a 68 (-4).
The previous record was set by Robert Floyd of Florida at 67 (-5) during the Karsten Creek Collegiate in 1996.
Ninth Hole Notes:
Sophomore Dwayne Morley made a great save on the par-5 ninth hole to finish the first half of the day's round. After hitting his second shot into the woods just left of the green, he cleared through considerably high ruff to place him just below the lip of the green. His next chip shot stopped within less than one foot of the cup. He putted out to finish even on the hole and headed into the back nine at just 1-over-par.
Freshman Duke Butler had his own exciting moments on the ninth hole. His third shot placed him about 17 feet from the cup. Butler finessed a would-be birdie putt that softly bounced off of the cup setting him up for an easy par on the hole. Butler turned nine holes shooting a 41 (+6).
Freshman Stephen Reed was able to tame the ninth hole with a birdie putt from about 16 feet out to turn nine holes at 36 (E).
18th Hole Gives Aggies Trouble:
The 18th hole is par-5 dog-leg-left and the center of the green is 510 yards away from the tee box. The fairway begins about 250 yards from the tee box and is separated from the beginning of the hole by a lake that continues to the left side of play with a steep, sloping shore, making this hole one of the toughest on the course. The Aggies found this out the hard way. Senior Casey Cronin, sophomore Dwayne Morley and freshman Stephen Reed all hit their 18th hole tee shots into the lake, but all finished strong on the day with Cronin and Morley parring the hole while Reed chipped out of a bunker to set himself up for a tough par putt only to miss by inches from about eight feet out, bogeying the hole.
The second round of the men's 2001 NCAA Central Regional will begin at 7:30 a.m., with the Aggies teeing off at 12:36. Results will be posted at www.aggieathletics.com.