Lovins leads Aggie comeback at SEU
AUSTIN, Texas (March 1) - Travis Lovins fired a final-round 66, winning medalist honors and leading Cameron to the team title at the St. Edward's University Spring Invitational Tuesday at Lake Cliff Country Club.
Lovins was the only player in the tournament to post three rounds in the 60s, shooting 69-69-66 to distance the field by an impressive six strokes in the first event of the spring season for Jerry Hrnciar's Aggies. Cameron won the team title by just two strokes over host St. Edward's, posting the lowest team score (283) of the day. The Aggies entered the Tuesday's final round nine strokes off the pace set by first-day leader Central Oklahoma, which slipped to third with a final-round 301.
"That's the best Travis has played since he's been here," Hrnciar said. "I've known all along that he's had the ability to do that, but sometimes you have to actually go out and do something like that before you believe you can do it. I'm hoping this will be a break-out performance for Travis."
Lovins' effort fueled a steady climb up the team standings for the Aggies. Cameron posted an opening-round 288 to land in fourth place among the 13 teams in the event, then climbed to third with a 284 in Monday's second round. The Aggies' 283 on Tuesday was four strokes better than the 287 posted by St. Edward's, allowing Cameron to leapfrog the Hilltoppers for their fourth overall team event title of the 2004-05 season.
"It was very exciting to see us play this well this early in the season today," Hrnciar added.
Cameron placed two other golfers among the individual Top 15 at Lake Cliff. Owen Mahaffey rallied from an opening-round 75 to post a 1-under 70 on Tuesday for a three-round total of 217. Nic Ware also finished with a 217, carding a 72 in the final round. Both players tied for 14th.
Kolby Seals finished tied for 28th with a 222 (+9), while Ryan King posted a 228.
Lovins won medalist honors over Central Oklahoma's Chris Hutson and Northeastern State's Brandon Risenhoover, both of whom finished with three-round totals of 210.
St. Edward's Spring Invitational
Lake Cliff CC - Austin, Texas - Par 71
TEAM STANDINGS
| School |
Rd 1 |
Rd 2 |
Rd 3 |
Total |
| 1. Cameron |
288 |
284 |
283 |
855 (+3) |
| 2. St. Edward's |
285 |
285 |
287 |
857 (+5) |
| 3. Central Oklahoma |
284 |
279 |
301 |
864 (+12) |
| 4. Northeastern State |
289 |
289 |
287 |
865 (+13) |
| 5. Abilene Christian |
287 |
288 |
297 |
872 (+20) |
| 6. Southwestern Oklahoma |
299 |
284 |
290 |
873 (+21) |
| 7. St. Mary's |
291 |
292 |
291 |
874 (+22) |
| 8. East Central |
295 |
290 |
297 |
882 (+30) |
| 9. West Texas A&M |
294 |
298 |
293 |
885 (+33) |
| 10. Texas A&M-Commerce |
314 |
288 |
298 |
900 (+48) |
| 11. Incarnate Word |
310 |
300 |
308 |
918 (+66) |
| 12. Augustana College |
312 |
306 |
306 |
924 (+72) |
| 13. Dallas Baptist |
330 |
313 |
325 |
968 (+116) |
|
|
|
|
|
| CAMERON SCORES |
|
|
|
|
| 1. Travis Lovins |
69 |
69 |
66 |
204 (-9) |
| T14. Owen Mahaffey |
75 |
72 |
70 |
217 (+4) |
| T14. Nic Ware |
74 |
71 |
72 |
217 |
| T28. Kolby Seals |
75 |
72 |
75 |
222 (+9) |
| T44. Ryan King |
70 |
83 |
75 |
228 (+15) |
