The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Conference USA
Men's Golf Team Finishes Second At C-USA Championship
4/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
TAMPA, Fla. ----- The UAB men's golf team shot a final-round 289 here Wednesday and finished with a three-day score of 869 (288-292-289) to place second out of 14 teams at the 2003 Conference USA men's golf championship. It marked the fourth time UAB has placed second in the C-USA championship, which also equals its highest finish in C-USA championship play.
"I was very pleased with the way we played throughout the tournament," head coach Alan Kaufman said. "TCU has a very solid team, but we just couldn't get over that hump. We have a very good team even though we are young and I am proud of their performance this week."
The Blazers had two players finish in the top 10 of the individual competition. Sophomore Ryan Thomas tied his career-low round with a 69 on the final day of competition, to close out play with a two-over 215 (72-74-69). Thomas placed seventh overall to lead the Blazers - his highest finish in any event all season. C-USA all-freshman performer Tigh Van Leeuwen finished just behind Thomas with a 217 (75-71-71) to tie for eighth overall. It also marked the best performance of his UAB career.
Other Blazers include all-freshman C-USA performer Nathan Turner, who placed in a tie for 18th with a three-day score of 220 (74-74-72). Freshman Clark Brown, who was tied for the lead after day one, finished in a tie for 21st with a 221 (68-76-77), while sophomore Chris Cousins carded a 226 (74-73-79) to finish in a tie for 40th.
No. 5 TCU captured the tournament title with an 862 (288-289-285) to finish seven strokes ahead of the Blazers. Tournament host South Florida shot the low round of the day (282) which improved the Bulls from seventh on Tuesday to a third-place finish with an 876. Houston (879) and Louisville (881) round out the top five.
The UAB men's golf team will next compete in its final tournament of the season when it travels to McDonough, Ga. to participate in the Georgia State Intercollegiate on May 7-9.
