October 29, 2006
No. 12-ranked Texas A&M pummeled No. 13 Arizona State, 5-0, in Sunday morning's opening match at the Callaway Collegiate Match Play Championship, then followed with a thrilling 3-2 win against fourth-ranked Georgia in the afternoon at Colonial Country Club.
A&M will meet No. 15 Lamar in Monday's semifinal match, while No. 2 Florida and No. 3 Oklahoma State face off in the other semifinal. The winners will play for the championship on Tuesday.
The Aggies dominated the Sun Devils, posting the day's only shutout. None of the five individual matches lasted more than 16 holes as Martin Piller defeated Steele DeWald, 5 and 4; Bronson Burgoon downed Phil Telliard, 5 and 3; Robert Gates beat Fred Andersson, 4 and 2, Trey Todd defeated Tristin Bierbroodspot, 1-up; and Matt Van Zandt battered Ryan Kelley, 7 and 6.
Van Zandt's match was all square through three holes, but the sophomore won seven of the next eight holes to put the match away.
The afternoon match against Georgia was much tighter as Burgoon beat Hudson Swafford, 2-up; Gates defeated Brendon Todd, 3 and 2; and Van Zandt edged Adam Mitchell, 1-up. Piller lost to Brian Harmon, 3 and 2; and Todd was defeated by Michael Green, 2-up.
"All of the guys really played terrific golf against Arizona State," said A&M Coach J.T. Higgins. "We got up on them early and they had to play from behind, which is hard to do. The match against Georgia was outstanding and was back and forth all afternoon. The guys played with a lot of heart and came out on top. All our guys gave great effort in both matches."