The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Jerry Pate Invitational
Blazers Finish In 10th At Jerry Pate Invitational
10/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Oct. 14, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- Sophomore Tigh VanLeeuwen fired an even par 213 (72-69-72) to lead the UAB men's golf team at the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, played at Old Overton Country Club. As a team, the Blazers finished 10th overall with a three-round score of 864 (293-283-288) for the two-day event.
"This was a great tournament which featured a lot of good teams," said UAB head coach Alan Kaufman. "We played consistently throughout the tournament and it gave our guys some good experience. I was hoping for a little better finish, but overall I was pleased with the way we played."
VanLeeuwen finished play tied for 29th overall. Following VanLeeuwen's lead was sophomore Clark Brown, who finished the day with the team-low round of 70. Brown completed tournament play carding a one-over-par 214 (73-71-70). Junior Chris Cousins finished in a tie for 41st (73-75-71/219), while freshman Garrett Osborn (78-71-75/225) and junior Ryan Thomas (75-72-77/225) rounds out the UAB golfers, with each player tied for 51st for the event.
No. 7 ranked Oklahoma State won its fourth Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate team championship when the Cowboys bested the field of 12 of the nation's best teams with a 34-under-par finish. OSU shot 277-268-273/818 on the par 71 course at Old Overton Club.
It marked the fourth time the Cowboys captured the tournament title. Oklahoma State won the JPNI in 1992, 1996 and 2001.
No. 4 Georgia finished four strokes back, 30 under par, to take second place (822). The team final standings found No. 12 UNLV third at 27 under par (825), No. 3 Clemson finished fourth (826) at 26 under, No. 10 Augusta State finished fifth (838) at minus 14. No. 11 Wake Forest finished sixth (841) at 11 under par. No. 17 Arizona finished seventh (845) at seven under. No. 9 Georgia Tech finished 8th (846) at six under par. No. 8 Texas finished ninth (847) at five under par. The Blazers beat out two Alabama schools in No. 25 Auburn (866) and Alabama (870) which finished 11th and 12th, respectively.
Bill Haas, son of PGA golfer Jay Haas, was the tournament's individual champion. The Wake Forest golfer finished 18 under par, shooting 63-66-66/195. Following Haas was Alabama's Lars Brovold (200), UNLV's Ryan Moore (70-67-64/201), Oklahoma State's Casey Wittenberg (71-64-67/202), UNLV's Travis Whisman (69-68-66/203) and Georgia's Brendon Todd (68-63-72/203).
The Blazers will next be in action when they travel to San Diego, Calif. to compete at the San Diego State Invitational on Oct. 20-21.
