Sept. 7, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The No. 9-ranked Texas A&M men's golf team opens its season this week unlike ever before, as the Aggies are in Japan to compete in the 28th Annual Topy Cup.
The event, billed as the U.S.-Japan Intercollegiate Golf Championship, takes place Sept. 9-11 at the par-72, 7,127-yard Tanagura Country Club, located about 3 ½ hours north of Tokyo.
"It is great to be starting up again and we are really excited about the year ahead," head coach J.T. Higgins said. "The chance to open the season in Japan, however, makes it even more special. It is such an honor just to be selected for this event and the boys are really fired up for the trip."
A&M is one of four American men's teams competing in the three-day, 54-hole tournament. The Aggies join Arizona, No. 12 Arizona State and Fresno State in the field that includes some of the top Japanese collegiate teams and individuals. Arizona and UC Davis are the U.S. teams competing in the women's field.
The first round will get underway on Thursday at 8 a.m. local time, or 6 p.m. Wednesday evening back home in College Station. Round two will commence on Friday at 8 a.m. (6 p.m. Thursday in Texas), with the final round starting at 7 a.m. Saturday in Japan (5 p.m. Friday back home).
The University of Washington took the 2009 Topy Cup title, but success for the American squads has not been guaranteed--Japanese men's teams have won 14 of the last 19 tournaments.
"Tanagura Country Club is an incredible facility and a wonderful test of golf," Higgins added. "The Topy Cup has a wonderful history that includes some of the best teams and players in all of college golf."
Entering his 10th season, Higgins' Topy Cup lineup will feature four All-Americans--seniors Nacho Elvira and Conrad Shindler, junior Jordan Russell and sophomore Cameron Peck--along with senior John Hurley. The Aggies, who won the 2009 NCAA Championship and finished 13th at last year's event, return all but one of their lineup to this year's squad.
"Personally, I am very excited about our team this year," Higgins said. "We have the talent, experience and depth that should allow us to compete with the best teams in the nation once again."
Fans can follow the action online at www.topycup.com. Results will be posted following each round on aggieathletics.com.
TOPY CUP BREAKDOWN
September 9-11 - Tanagura Country Club (par 72/7,127 yards), Tanagura, Japan
Collegiate Field: No. 9 Texas A&M, No. 12 Arizona State, Arizona, Fresno State (also includes Japanese teams and individuals)
Format: team stroke play, 54 holes; team and individual champion will be crowned
Round Schedule: Thursday, 8 a.m. (Wednesday, 6 p.m. in Texas); Friday, 8 a.m. (Thursday, 6 p.m.); Saturday, 7 a.m. (Friday, 5 p.m.)
A&M Lineup: Nacho Elvira (Sr., 72.76 average in 2009-10); John Hurley (Sr., 74.28); Cameron Peck (So., 72.53); Jordan Russell (Jr., 72.41); Conrad Shindler (Sr., 73.45)
Results: online at www.topycup.com; updates via Twitter at @aggie_m_golf
Up Next: Husky Invitational, Sept. 20-21, Seattle (Washington National GC)