Texas A&M
UCLA
Texas A&M Upsets Top-Seeded UCLA at Collegiate Match Play Championship
Mar 21, 2011 | Men's Golf
March 21, 2011
BALL GROUND, Ga. - No. 5-seed Texas A&M picked up its second victory of the week on Monday, upsetting the top-seeded and second-ranked UCLA Bruins 3.5-1.5 in the Callaway Collegiate Match Play Championship at Hawks Ridge Golf Club outside Atlanta.
The win puts the Aggies into a fifth-place match with No. 3-seed Georgia Tech on Tuesday morning.
"That was a great match," head coach J.T. Higgins said. "Anytime you beat a quality opponent like UCLA, it makes you feel good about your team and where you're at. Both teams played fantastic golf and all the individual matches were closely contested. It's good for us to see just how well we need to play if we want to reach our goals."
The Bruins got a 4 and 3 victory on the top line by the nation?s No. 1-ranked player, Patrick Cantlay, over A&M?s Jordan Russell to take the early lead. Russell was actually 1-under par when the match was stopped after 15 holes.
"For Jordan to lose 4 and 3 while shooting a sub-par round just shows the level of competition out there today," Higgins said.
Aggie senior John Hurley then evened things up, remaining undefeated this weekend with a 3 and 2 victory over Alex Kim on the fifth line to tie the match.
After senior Nacho Elvira topped UCLA?s Mario Clemens, 2 and 1, on the third line, and sophomore Cameron Peck halved his match with Connor Driscoll, the overall victory came down to the final match of the morning.
On the No. 2 line, Senior Conrad Shindler lost the first three holes to fall three down early to UCLA?s Gregor Main. Shindler battled back however, bringing the match all square with a par on the 15thhole of the match (Hole No. 2), then took the lead for good on the ensuing hole with another par. Shindler?s 1-up victory moved him to a perfect 3-0 on the week.
"While everyone did a great job today, I'm especially proud of Conrad," Higgins said. "He was three down through eight holes. His opponent was 5-under through six and was looking like a tour star, but Connie hung in there, stayed patient and took advantage of his opportunities when they came. He actually had a putt to close out the match on No. 17. It was just a great effort."
A&M will wrap play in the championships when the Aggies take on third-seeded Georgia Tech in the fifth-place match on Tuesday.
"It doesn't get any easier tomorrow," Higgins said. "We play a very tough Georgia Tech team on their home course. They are ranked in the top five nationally and are good from the top of the lineup to the bottom. We are looking forward to another great match."
No. 5 Texas A&M 3.5, No. 1 UCLA 1.5
Patrick Cantlay (UCLA) def. Jordan Russell (A&M), 4 and 3
Conrad Shindler (A&M) def. Gregor Main (UCLA), 1 up
Nacho Elvira (A&M) def. Mario Clemens (UCLA), 2 and 1
Cameron Peck (A&M) halved Connor Driscoll (UCLA)
John Hurley (A&M) def. Alex Kim (UCLA), 3 and 2
