Feb. 25, 2011
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JT Higgins [mp3] |
PALM DESERT, Calif. - The tournament consists of two rounds Saturday and a final 18 holes on Sunday at the par-72, 7,322-yard Classic Club. Action begins with a shotgun start at 7:45 a.m. (PT) both days.
Along with the Aggies, the 21-team field includes Air Force, Boise State, Cal Poly, Colorado State, Denver, Drake, Hawai'i, Kansas, Long Beach State, Nebraska, New Mexico, Santa Clara, Southern Utah, SMU, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, UNLV, UTEP, Weber State and host Wyoming.
A&M added the tournament late to the schedule after losing several competition dates in the fall to inclement weather.
"We had a few rainouts in the fall, and we were really lucky Wyoming allowed us to come to Palm Springs," head coach J.T. Higgins said. "This is a really strong field and I think it's going to be a challenge. We're looking forward to it."
The Classic Club has earned numerous distinctions from Golfweek Magazine and was the host course of the PGA's Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
"I think this is probably one of the more difficult courses in Palm Springs," Higgins said. "We're excited about the challenge the weekend will provide, and we think we have another great opportunity to win."
A&M is coming off a strong second-place finish at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate in Hawai'i last week, and will take essentially the same team out to the desert this weekend. Seniors Conrad Shindler, John Hurley and Nacho Elvira will be joined by junior Jordan Russell and sophomore Cameron Peck to round out the Aggie squad.
February 26-27 - The Classic Club (par 72/7,322 yards) - Palm Desert, California
The Field (21 teams): Air Force, Boise State, Cal Poly, Colorado State, Denver, Drake, Hawai'i, Kansas, Long Beach State, Nebraska, New Mexico, Santa Clara, Southern Utah, SMU, Texas A&M, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, UNLV, UTEP, Weber State, Wyoming
Format: team stroke play, 54 holes
Rounds 1 & 2: Saturday, 9:45 a.m. CT
Round 3: Sunday, 9:45 a.m. CT
Host Institution: Wyoming
Defending Champions: Santa Clara (872, +8); Gabe Maier, Wyoming (208, -8)
A&M Lineup: John Hurley (Sr., 71.63 average); Cameron Peck (So., 72.00); Jordan Russell (Jr., 70.95); Nacho Elvira (Sr., 71.75); Conrad Shindler (Sr., 72.29)
Updates: via twitter at @aggie_m_golf
Up Next: March 11-13 at Southern Highlands Collegiate, Las Vegas