April 25, 2011
HUTCHINSON, Kan. - The Texas A&M men's golf team sits seven shots back of the lead in fourth place after Monday's first two rounds of the Big 12 Championship at Prairie Dunes Country Club.
The Aggies carded a 22-over par 582 on the day, totaling a 286 (+6) in round one but battling to a 296 (+16) in the second round. A&M is seven shots back of leader Oklahoma State (575, +15), four back of second-place Texas (578, +18) and three back of third-place Oklahoma (579, +19), heading into Tuesday's third round.
"The course played tough and the weather was brutal at times, but those are weak excuses for how we played today," head coach J.T. Higgins said. "We have played hard courses and in bad weather most of the spring, but today we let it get the better of us."
Texas Tech (585, +25) is in fourth and trails the Aggies by three, followed by Nebraska (+29), Kansas (+33), Baylor (+35), Colorado (+38), Missouri (+42), Kansas State (+42) and Iowa State (+47).
The Aggies, as well as the field, struggled through most of the second round, with the lowest score turned in an 11-over 291. A&M however made up some ground late in the round, shooting even par as a team over the final three holes to pull to within seven shots.
Highlighting the first round were eagles by senior Conrad Shindler on the par-5, 519-yard 17th hole, and sophomore Cameron Peck on the par-5, 512-yard seventh. A&M's 286 was the second-best score of the round.
Leading the way individually is Shindler, who is in a tie for eighth overall at 5-over 145 (71-74). He is six shots back of the co-leaders, Oklahoma State's Morgan Hoffman and Kevin Tway, who both shot a 1-under 139.
Senior Nacho Elvira is one stroke back in 11th at 6-over 146 (69-77), while junior Jordan Russell is also tied for 11th (77-69=146). Peck is in 18th at 7-over 147 (69-78), and senior John Hurley is in 44th at 13-over 153 (77-76=153).
A&M will tee off starting at 8 a.m. from the first hole in Tuesday's third round. The Aggies are paired with Texas Tech and Nebraska. The fourth and final round of the championship will get underway Wednesday morning. Live scoring is available on golfstat.com.
"Fortunately we are only half-way through and are still in striking distance, but we better come ready to play the rest of the way," Higgins said. "We have to have better focus, more poise and execute our game plan better over the final two rounds. I am expecting a much stronger performance, both mentally and physically, tomorrow."