Ags take 7th as hosts of Territory Classic
DUNCAN, Oklahoma (September 18) – Hosting its only tournament of the 2007-2008 season, the Cameron men’s golf team today finished in 7th place at the Cameron University Territory Classic at The Territory Golf and Country Club in Duncan, Oklahoma. A field of fourteen elite golf teams completed two rounds in as many days, with Texas Wesleyan taking the title. The Aggies finished with a combined team score of 594 (298-296) while Texas Wesleyan turned in a 572. Cameron stayed in 7th place throughout the tournament. Texas Wesleyan’s Mitch Hendon won the tournament with a two-round score of 139 (70-69).
“We hit it better today, but we’re still making those huge numbers. I’ve never seen this before to this magnitude, how one guy can lose it all on one hole,” Head Coach Jerry Hrnciar said. “It’s just unbelievable. Certainly they aren’t trying to do it, but it’s happening with regularity.”
Senior Cane Shumaker and junior Peter Svajlen both finished the event in a tie for 10th place overall with 146 total strokes. Shumaker stayed consistent after shooting back-to-back 73’s, while Svajlen improved by a stroke in the second round (74-72). Another pair of Aggies finished in a tie, as sophomores Michael Lee and Robbe Trout both scored a 151 to finish in 36th place. The two traded scores with Lee going 76-75 and Trout finishing 75-76.
Lee recorded one of the tournament’s two eagles. He also led Cameron and was ranked 8th in par-four scoring with a 4.15 (+3) average. Junior Cade Lewis recorded a two-round total of 160 after shooting consecutive rounds of 80. He finished the tournament in a tie for 66th place overall.
“We have only had two days of official practice and played in two tournaments so I haven’t been with them long enough to have an impact, especially the younger ones,” Coach Hrnciar said. “It has all been about course management so far.”
As hosts of the tournament, Cameron also played a “Junior Varsity” team of individual players. Sophomore Brett Leavell, playing on the “JV” team, finished the tournament in a tie for 20th place overall. He finished with a 148 (75-73) and recorded the third-most birdies (6) in the tournament. Leavell also led the Aggies and was ranked 2nd in par-five scoring with a 4.33 (-4) average. “I’m really proud of a lot of the JV players,” Coach Hrnciar said. “It’s good to see that, more so for their confidence. They were the highlight of today.”
Sophomore Chris Staats finished in a tie for 56th place with a final score of 156 (83-73). Freshmen Clint Wilson and Dave Young finished in ties for 63rd and 73rd place, respectively. Wilson shot a 158 (85-73) and Young shot a 162 (84-78). Sophomore Henry Lam came in 77th place after recording a 170 (87-83) in the tournament.
“My hat is off to all the people who worked on the tournament, the whole crew,” Coach Hrnciar said. “It was a marvelous, really tight tournament, and we appreciate it all.”
Next on the schedule for the Aggie men’s golfers is the Mary Hardin-Baylor Tournament. The tournament runs from October 1-2 and will be played at the Millcreek Country Club in Salado, Texas.
