Prairie Dunes Country Club || Par 70 || 6,941 yards
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – In his final stroke play collegiate event, the University of Houston’s James Ross turned in quite the performance.
Ross fired a final round 4-under 66 here at Prairie Dunes Country Club at the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships to finish in a tie for third at 5 under (70-69-66—205).
The 11th-ranked Cougars placed 10th overall with a three-day 8-over 848 in the championship, while Texas A&M finished with a team total 41-over 881 to finish 29th overall.
Ross received All-American honors following the tournament, the first Cougar to do so since Jordan Irwin’s honorable mention recognition in 2007. Ross’ 66 was the Cougars’ lowest final round at the championship since 2000, when Chris Morris and Andy Sanders each fired 6-under rounds.
Ross wasn’t the only Cougar to fire a sub-par round as the Cougars worked their way into the top 10 in the final round.
Junior Roman Robledo fired a 1-under 69 that propelled him into a tie for 19th at 1-under 210 (72-68-69).
Robledo caught fire on the front nine as he birdied four holes to shoot 4 under, but struggled on the back nine with three bogeys.
Teammates Vincent Martino (72-74-72) and Kyle Pilgrim (71-76-71) shot a pair of 8-over 218s, while Curtis Reed finished 21-over (71-81-79—231).
The rain-soaked tournament wasn’t as kind to the Aggies, who were coming off a third-place finish at the Raleigh Regional.
A&M opened the tournament with a 16-over 296 and struggled to make up any ground the final two days.
Sophomore Andrew Lister fired a 4-over 214 (72-71-71) to finish in a tie for 55th, Ben Crancer shot 7-over 217 (73-71-73), and Adria Arnaus finished 11-over 221 (75-71-75).
Greg Yates shot 19-over 229 (76-75-78) and Johannes Veerman shot 23-over 233 (77-80-76).
The top eight teams in the tournament—Stanford, Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech, UCLA, SMU, and Illinois—advance to compete in a match play tournament to decide the national champion.
Andrew Lister, a redshirt sophomore for the Texas A&M golf team, fired an 8-under 64 at the U.S. Open local qualifying on Monday to advance to the sectional round June 2. [Photo courtesy of Texas A&M]
Fresh off an 8-under 64 at the U.S. Open local qualifier at Shadow Hawk Golf Club, Andrew Lister is in Raleigh, N.C., preparing the NCAA Raleigh Regional Tournament. But before he tees off once more this week, Lister sat down to talk to Editor-in-Chief Matt Keyser about his qualifying round, how he hopes to build more momentum going into the sectional round, and his man strength.
MATT KEYSER: Thanks for joining us. I know you’re a busy guy these days, so we appreciate it. First off, congrats on a helluva round Monday.
ANDREW LISTER: Thanks.
MK: Is this the first time you’ve tried to qualify for the U.S. Open?
AL: I tried last year and maybe the year before that. Last year I shot even, 72, and missed it by three or four shots.
MK: What did you take from that experience coming into this year?
AL: Last year I tripled a par 5 on the back 9, so this year I just told myself I was going to play smart and take my medicine when I needed to give myself a good shot at qualifying. I ended up playing really well.
MK: 64 is quite the round.
AL: I hit the ball really good. I missed one green all day and ended up getting the ball up-and-down. I made a few putts, missed a couple of short birdies—I guess I made my fair share, too—and had everything going.
MK: Did you make any bogies?
AL: No.
MK: Take us through the round. Did you start off hot and maintain it through the round or did you play consistently well throughout your round?
AL: I played solid on the front 9. I made three birdies and shot 3 under. On the back 9, I pared my first three holes, then went 5 under on my last six holes. I birdied 13, 14, 15, 16, pared 17, and birdied 18. I made a good birdie on 15. I was in the right trees and hit a punch shot that ran up to the green and made a putt.
MK: Did it ever cross your mind you were playing well and had a shot to place in the top seven qualifying spots?
AL: I figured if I played well I probably had a good chance at qualifying for sectionals. I didn’t really know what I was shooting during the round—I knew I was playing well. Towards the end I had an idea I was going to make it, but I tried not to think about it. When I got to 18 [a par 5], I knew I didn’t want to do anything stupid with water on the hole, so I laid up on my approach shot. I hit my drive to the right and was in some rough. I probably had an 8-iron in, but it was windy and I didn’t want to risk hitting it in the water, so I laid up. I hit a pretty conservative wedge to about 30 feet and made the putt.
MK: Any nerves for you now knowing you’re going on to sectionals?
AL: I’m excited. I know Lakeside [Country Club in Houston]. That’s my first choice for sectionals, so I assume I’m going to play there. I’ve played there a decent amount, so I’m excited. I think I have a shot to play in the U.S. Open if I play well.
MK: How long have you been playing golf?
AL: I started when I was 11, playing with my dad. I didn’t really get into it until high school. Now I’m on the course every day. I’m at A&M now, and I love it there, it was my first choice out of high school. We have great practice facilities, coaches, and I love my teammates.
MK: Kind of adds a new aspect to the game when everything like that falls into place.
AL: It’s nice. There have been some really good players to come through this program, and we’ve got some really good guys now. Playing with them has taught me a lot. We’re at the NCAA regionals right now getting ready for the tournament Thursday.
MK: Obviously you want the team to do well this week to advance in the NCAA Tournament, but what would playing well this week do for your confidence going into sectionals?
AL: That would give me a lot of confidence going forward. It’s good to have more good streaks than it is to have bad streaks. I’ve been playing good the last couple weeks. I had a good tournament at the Floridian and placed third; it was a par 71 and I shot 9-under, 68-67-69. I had a couple weeks after that I didn’t play so well, but I’ve been hitting the ball a lot better lately.
MK: It’s crazy how golf is such a fickle sport. One week you’re playing great and the next you can’t find your swing to save your life.
AL: Yeah. Some days it’s a lot easier to figure it out than others.
MK: So you didn’t get serious about the game until high school?
AL: Through high school I was the No. 1 golfer on my high school team from the start. From then it was a dream of mine to play college golf. I didn’t know where I was going to play—I wanted to go to a good program. I had a really good summer before my senior year, and from there I was lucky to get a really good offer from A&M.
MK: That’s big time getting an offer from such a prestigious Division I university.
AL: I’m very thankful.
MK: How has your game improved since you’ve been at A&M?
AL: I’ve gotten a lot better from 150 yards in. I’m a lot better with my putter now, and my short game and wedges are a lot better. I’ve learned a lot: to practice more and what makes you score better. I’m a good deal longer, too.
MK: What do you attribute that to: more time in the gym, adjustments in your swing?
AL: As I’ve gotten older I’ve begun hitting it father. We work out but not too hard. And I have a homemade swing, so I don’t make many adjustments to it. I guess it’s just my man strength (laughs).
MK: (laughs) Man strength, that’s one way to put it.
MK: So you’ve been playing quite a few years now, what’s your most memorable golf moment?
AL: Just getting out and playing with my friends, my teammates; I love getting out with them and having fun and competing with them.
Lister said since he’s joined the A&M golf team his short game has vastly improved, he’s learned how to score, and he hits the ball a lot farther, which he attributes to his added “man strength.” [Photo courtesy of Texas A&M]MK: Playing college golf I bet you’ve traveled quite a bit and gotten the opportunity to play courses across the country.
AL: Oh yeah. And growing up my dad was in the navy—I didn’t grow up in Texas—so every 2-3 years we’d move around.
MK: What’s your most favorite course?
AL: I really like the courses up in the northeast. We went on a trip earlier this year to Long Island and played some courses up there, and they were pretty sweet. I played in the U.S. Amateur last year at the Country Club in Boston and that was a great course.
MK: What are the biggest differences between those courses and the courses here in Texas?
AL: They’re more old school—the holes are lined with trees, they have more character. You have to think your way around the course rather than stepping on the tee box and try to hit the ball as hard as you can.
MK: Last thing, any advice to any golfers out there thinking about trying to qualify for the 2015 U.S. Open?
AL: Start with a game plan and stick to it. There are only seven spots so you have to play well. Go out there, don’t psyche yourself out because it’s a qualifier, and play your game and hopefully you make it.
MK: Thanks for taking time out to talk to us. Keep us posted on how you’re doing and good luck this week.
AUBURN, Ala. – Despite a final round 2-under 286, the Sam Houston State men’s golf team fell short of a qualifying berth to the NCAA Championships here Saturday.
The Bearkats, who shot a three-day 889, missed one of the Auburn Regional’s five championship berths by five shots. The appearance marked Sam Houston’s first in an NCAA Regional since 1987.
Top-ranked Alabama, Kennesaw State, Auburn, Virginia Tech, and Texas qualified for the NCAA Championships. The stroke differential from the third-place team, Auburn, and Sam Houston’s 11th place finish was 11 shots.
Alabama won the regional by a whopping 22 strokes. The 2013 NCAA champion team shot an 11-under 853 (287-284-282) to destroy the field. Second-place Kennesaw State fired an 11-over 875 (297-291-287), including a final round 1 under.
Bearkat Klein Klotz caught fire on his final 11 holes in the finale and placed third overall. After playing his first seven at even par—with two bogeys, two birdies, and three pars—Klotz shot 6-under 66, including a 5-under 31 on the back 9.
Klotz made back-to-back-to-back birdies on holes 2-4, then birdied the par-5 7th and par-4 9th.
Klotz’s 3 under (76-71-66) finish is the best in program history.
Eugene Regional
Course: Eugene Country Club
Par: 70
Yardage: 6,990
EUGENE, Ore. – It’s been 13 years, but the University of Houston men’s golf team is headed back to the NCAA Championships.
The Cougars carded a three-day 875 (290-293-292) to place fourth overall here at the Eugene Regional on Saturday to qualify for the nation’s top golf tournament.
10th-ranked UH broke away from a fifth-place tie with South Carolina to claim the solo fourth spot.
Roman Robledo and Curtis Reed led the Cougars with a pair of 5-over 215 rounds. Robledo (72-74-69) fired his best round of the tournament with a 1-under 69 on Sunday, and Reed (72-72-71) fired a 1-over 71. The pair finished in a tie for eighth overall.
Kyle Pilgrim (69-75-78) fired a 12-over 222 and James Ross (80-72-74) shot a 16-over 226.
Wesley McClain shot 21-over 231 (77-76-78).
No. 3 Stanford edged out Oregon for top honors at the regional with an overall 853 (276-282-295). The 40th-ranked Ducks shot 854 (289-280-285).
Oklahoma finished third and South Carolina took the fifth spot.
Raleigh Regional
Course: Lonnie Poole Golf Course at N.C. State
Par: 71
Yardage: 7,213
RALEIGH, N.C. – Make it seven straight NCAA Championship appearances for the Texas A&M men’s golf program.
The Aggies, behind a final round even par, finished 3-under 849 (284-281-284) to finish in third place at the Raleigh Regional on Saturday.
Adria Arnaus led the way for the Aggies with a 5-under 66 in the final round. Arnaus played a bogey-free 18 that included five birdies, including the first two holes, and 13 pars.
Arnaus shot 6 under for the tournament to finish in a tie for third and four shots off top medalist honors.
Fellow Aggie Greg Yates fired a 1-over 72, which included four bogeys and three birdies. Yates shot 1-under 212 for the tournament (70-70-72) to finish in the top 10.
Ben Crancer fired a 4-over 75 for a three-day 218 (71-72-75). Andrew Lister shot a final round 2-over 73 to finish with a 2-over 215 (73-69-73).
Johannes Veerman shot a final round 73, as well. Veerman shot 6-over 219 (72-74-73).
AUBURN, Ala. – Sam Houston State’s Klein Klotz birdied two of his final three holes to shoot 1 under Friday and move to 3 over in the NCAA Auburn Regional.
The Bearkats shot 15-over 303 as a team and fell to 11th overall in the tournament. No. 1-ranked Alabama leads the tournament a 5 under, 15 shots better than second place Auburn.
Klotz birdied the par-4 sixth and par-5 seventh then coasted in with two pars to shoot 71.
Teammate Zach Cabra, who shot 1 under in Thursday’s opener, fired a 3-over 75 that included four bogeys and a birdie. Albert Miner shot 5 over, Logan Boatner and Andrew Johnson shot 8 over.
The top four scores from each team count towards the team’s overall score.
Eugene Regional
Course: Eugene Country Club
Par: 70
Yards: 6,990
EUGENE, Ore. – The 10th-ranked Houston Cougars men’s golf team shot a 13-over 293 to remain in a tie for fifth at the NCAA Eugene Regional.
The Cougars are tied with North Florida, which shot a 17-over 297.
No. 3 Stanford shot 2 over on the day to remain at 2 under for the tournament. The Cardinals lead Oklahoma by nine shots after the Sooners shot 7 over.
Houston’s James Ross and Curtis Reed each shot 2 over to pace the Cougars on Friday.
Roman Robledo shot 4 over, Kyle Pilgrim, who shot 1 under on Thursday, fired a 5-over 75, and Wesley McClain shot 6 over.
Raleigh Regional
Course: Lonnie Poole Golf Course
Par: 71
Yardage: 7,213
RALEIGH, N.C. – After a rain delay halted Thursday’s play, the Texas A&M men’s golf team fired a first-round 284, then turned around and shot a 3-under 281 in Round 2 to move into fourth place at the NCAA Raleigh Regional on Friday.
The Aggies are a whopping 21 shots behind first place Georgia Tech, which fired a second round 12-under 272. Georgia Tech holds a commanding 16-shot lead over second place Washington, which shot 6 under on Friday.
Sophomore Andrew Lister led the Aggies with a 2-under 69, which included a back 9 32 in which he started eagle-birdie. Lister birdied holes 5 and 6 en route to his bogey-free final nine.
Greg Yates shot his second straight 1-under round, which included five birdies, two bogeys and a double.
Adria Arnaus fired a 1-under round of his own, Ben Crancer shot 1 over and Johannes Veerman shot 3 over.
The NCAA regional men’s golf tournaments began across the country Thursday, and three tournaments featured Houston-based teams: Sam Houston State at the Auburn Regional, the Houston Cougars at the Eugene Regional, and Texas A&M at the Raleigh Regional.
The three-day, 54-hole tournaments run through Saturday, and the top five teams and low individuals not on those teams will advance to the NCAA finals, held May 223-28 at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan.
NCAA Auburn Regional
Course: Auburn University Club
Par: 72
Yardage: 7, 254
AUBURN, Ala. – Zach Cabra fired a 1-under 71 to lead the Sam Houston State University men’s golf team here in the opening day of the NCAA Auburn Regional Thursday.
The Bearkats shot 12-over 300 as a team to tie U.C. Davis for ninth place.
Cabra fired a 2-under 34 on the front 9, with two bogeys and four birdies, including back-to-back birdies on holes 6 and 7.
SHSU’s Logan Boatner and Klein Klotz shot a 4-over 76, Albert Miner shot a 5-over 77, and Andrew Johnson shot a 12-over 84.
The top four individual scores are taken to compile the team’s score.
Top-ranked Alabama leads the three-day tournament after firing 1-under 287 as a team. No. 13 Texas shot 5-over 293 for second place and No. 23 Auburn shot 6-over 293 for third.
NCAA Eugene Regional
Course: Eugene Country Club
Par: 70
Yardage: 6,990
EUGENE, Ore. – The No. 10 Houston Cougars men’s golf team fired a 10-over 290 to place sixth overall after the first day at the NCAA Eugene Regional.
Kyle Pilgrim shot a 1-under 69 to lead the Cougars, who trail first place Stanford by 14 shots. Pilgrim’s round included a even par 34 on the front 9 before firing a 1-under 35 on the back nine with birdies on 11 and 13.
Houston’s Roman Robledo and Curtis Reed each shot 2-over 72 rounds, and Wesley McClain shot 7-over 77. James Ross fired a 10-over 80.
No. 3 Stanford leads No. 15 Oklahoma by four shots, which shot an even par 280. No. 22 South Carolina and North Florida shot a pair of 6-over 286.
NCAA Raleigh Regional
Course: Lonnie Poole Golf Course at N.C. State
Par: 71
Yardage: 7,213
RALEIGH, N.C. – Play was halted here in the opening day of the NCAA Raleigh Regional due to weather.
The Texas A&M men’s golf team and tournament will continue Friday at 11:30 a.m. with Round 2 following 30 minutes following each group’s completion of Round 1.
The 20th-ranked Aggies are 3 under for the round and in a three-way tie for third place with No. 41 Texas Tech and No. 44 Wake Forest.
Through 13 holes, Greg Yates leads the Aggies at 2-under, which includes two birdies on holes 1 and 2—Yates and the Aggies started their round on the back 9.
Ben Crancer is 1-under through 14, Adria Arnaus and Johannes Veerman are even through 15, and Andrew Lister is 1 over 14.
No. 5 Georgia Tech leads at 14 under, while No. 8 Washington is 10 under. South Alabama is 5 under.
LAS COLINAS, Texas – As if making a hole-in-one isn’t memorable enough, former Texas A&M golfer Case Cochran did one better.
A former Aggie golfer from 2008-13, Cochran aced the fifth playoff hole from 152 yards out to claim his spot in the 2014 HP Byron Nelson Championship at the Four Seasons Resort and Club here May 14-18.
Cochran was in a four-man playoff for the final three spots in the championship.
It’s been a successful week for members—both current and former—of the Texas A&M men’s golf team.
Monday, sophomore Andrew Lister shot an 8-under 64 at the local U.S. Open qualifying at Shadow Hawk Golf Club.
The Aggies are the No. 4 seed at the NCAA Regional Tournament in Raleigh, N.C., May 15-17 at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course. The team is making its 12th consecutive tournament appearance, a school record.
RICHMOND – Texas A&M golfer Andrew Lister fired an 8-under 64 to place first overall at the U.S. Open local qualifier at Shadow Hawk Golf Club on Monday. Lister is one of five Houston natives to advance to the sectional round June 2 at Lakeside Country Club in Houston.
Lister’s 64 beat out Blake Redmond of Sugar Land by two shots.
The 2014 U.S. Open is June 12-15 at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina.
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