Texas A&M
NCAA South Central Regional
Aggie Golfers Earn NCAA Bid With Runner-Up Finish at Regional
May 22, 2010 | Men's Golf
May 22, 2010
The No. 2-ranked Texas A&M men's golf team earned a trip to the NCAA Championships with a runner-up finish at the NCAA South Central Regional on Saturday at the Traditions Club Golf Course.
The Aggies will try to defend their 2009 NCAA team crown at the 2010 NCAA Div. I Men's Golf Championships, which will be contested at The Honors Course in Chattanooga, Tenn., June 1-6. Also earning NCAA berths from the South Central Regional were team champion Texas Tech, TCU, North Florida and Baylor, as well as individual champion Russell Henley of Georgia.
Aggie head coach J.T. Higgins is confident about his team's chances at the NCAA Championships after a solid regular season, and runner-up finishes at the Big 12 Championships and the South Central Regional.
““I think we believe we should make it to match play,” Higgins said. “We're one of the eight best teams going. We're going to stick to our game plan like we've done all year. We haven't finished outside the top five at a tournament all year. If we execute our game plan and stick to what we do, we'll make it to match play and take it from there.”
The Aggies held a one-stroke lead over Texas Tech entering Saturday's final, but the Red Raiders fired a three-under par 285 to edge A&M by a stroke. A&M shot a one-under 287 with all five players at par or better on Saturday.
“You have to tip your hat to Texas Tech,” Higgins said. “They had someone go four-under (Chris Ward). That's just great playing. They're a good team. They got us today, but we're still playing. There's only 30 teams in the country still playing golf, so we're in a good frame of mind.”
Junior Nacho Elvira paced the Aggies with a runner-up individual finish after contributing an even-par 72 on Saturday. Elvira, who was tied for the lead after day one and two, finished at 8-under with rounds of 66-70-72=208.
“I was really proud of Nacho,” Higgins said. “His wrist was bothering him all day, but he toughed it out. He hit some shots that were really painful. He shot even par, and was two-over with six holes to play but played two-under coming in. He gutted it out for us today.”
Senior J.T. Higgins:
“It's a great feeling. We did what we set out to do at this tournament and that was to advance to the NCAA Championships. We had five guys at par or under today, so you have to be happy with the way we played. You have to tip your hat to Texas Tech. They had someone go four-under (Chris Ward). That's just great playing. They're a good team. They got us today, but we're still playing. There's only 30 teams in the country still playing golf, so we're in a good frame of mind.”
(What's your state of mind going into nationals?) “I think we believe we should make it to match play. We're one of the eight best teams going. We're going to stick to our game plan like we've done all year. We haven't finished outside the top five at a tournament all year. If we execute our game plan and stick to what we do, we'll make it to match play and take it from there.”
(Is this a confident team right now?) “Yeah, they're pretty confident. That's what I talked to them about after we finished – we should be celebrating, not being disappointed because we didn't win. We should be celebrating that we're still playing and we know we have an excellent chance to go win another national championship.”
(Any of your players really stick out to you today?) “I was really proud of Nacho (Elvira). His wrist was bothering him all day, but he toughed it out. He hit some shots that were really painful. He shot even par, and was two-over with six holes to play but played two-under coming in. He gutted it out for us today. I thought Cameron (Peck) shooting under par was great, but all of them had a great round. It was a good, solid team effort.”
Texas A&M junior Ignacio “Nacho” Elvira :
“What we had in mind coming into this tournament was making it to nationals. We didn't talk about winning much. We accomplished what we wanted. We're still very positive about nationals. We are going to keep doing what we're doing and stick to the game plan, and we'll see what happens.
(Are the Aggies a dangerous team?) “We're pretty humble, but all five guys are playing pretty good. We don't have a weak point.”
Texas Tech head coach Greg Sands:
“Advancing was the goal, but I think that good teams try to win and advancing takes care of itself. We set our sights on being in contention and we were fortunate to play well today and have a few things go our way. We hadn't beaten A&M all year. We had a couple of close tournaments where we were one or couple behind them, but it was really neat to see the guys compete and win.”
(Texas Tech played here at the Aggie Invitational, was your team's knowledge of the course beneficial?) “Absolutely. We played well (at the Aggie Invitational), but A&M was unbelievable and won. The race for second place was the only close thing. We got beat by a few by Oklahoma State, but we played so well so I felt like that would be an advantage for us if we were sent here and it all worked out. Being familiar with the course really helped.”
(How do you feel going into nationals) “You always try to convince your team that they are good. When you do something like this, you don't have to talk them into anything. They know we did something that was pretty neat. In my mind, A&M is probably the best team in the country, and for sure the deepest team. They have eight guys that are great players. So for us to win here can only boost our confidence.”
Baylor head coach Greg Priest:
(On advancing) “Man, it's unbelievable. I prayed all day that we would get a shot and get in there, and the guys hung in and battled and we got through. Unbelievable.”
(Is it sweeter because it came through a playoff?) “Yeah, the way the guys responded to the playoff was a credit to them. I think we felt like we gave some (shots) away coming in. We had a couple of bogey on nine finishing up, and I think we had a sour taste in our mouths feeling like we had given it away. When we were on the (playoff) tee back there, I told the team that 'this is our opportunity, don't let anyone take it away. You go win it.' They stepped up to the challenge and they went and did it.”
(How proud of these guys are you?) “I'm proud of them. They're an awesome group. They've worked hard and we've been through a lot of adversity together. It's been a long time coming. We've had some chances to make it, and for whatever reason we haven't. That's all in the past and we've made it now. We're headed to nationals.”
Baylor player Joakim Mikkelson (clinched playoff win with 15-foot birdie):
“The wind started blowing really hard when I was on the tee box, and I ended up pretty far back there. I had to hit a little three wood in there, and I managed to get it down here somewhere. When I was over (the putt), I was like 'let's just make it and this is done right now.' It was an amazing feeling.”
