The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Duck Invitational
Blazers Finish In Eighth At Duck Intercollegiate
3/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
March 24, 2009
EUGENE, Ore. - The UAB men's golf team placed eighth overall at the Duck Invitational, finishing with a team score of 896 (300-300-296) during the two-day, 54-hole event. Junior Blake West, competing in his first tournament this spring, led UAB with a 20th-place finish.
"I thought we struggled throughout the tournament," UAB head coach Alan Kaufman said. "I thought Blake played well in his first tournament of the spring. We need consistent play from top to bottom."
West was the steadiest golfer for the Blazers throughout the 54-hole event, finishing with three consecutive rounds of two-over par 74, to close at 6-over 222. Senior Zack Sucher was one stroke back of West, carding a 223 (75-74-74) to tie for 27th overall on the par 72, 7,033-yard Eugene Country Club course.
Blake's twin brother, Adam, ended the event tied for 33rd with an eight-over par 224 (78-72-74). He was the lone UAB golfer to reach par on any of the three rounds with an even par 72 during the second round.
Junior John Darby tied for 53rd (231), while senior Kaylor Timmons rounded out the Blazers in 76th (239). Senior Mike Oimoen, who competed as an individual, closed play tied with Darby for 53rd with a 231.
No. 8 Washington led from wire-to-wire and pulled away from the field with a 10-under par score in the third round en route to winning with an 859 team total. Host and No. 56 Oregon climbed into second place, but the Ducks were still 15 strokes out of first with an 874. Oregon State finished with an 879, while the Colorado closed with an 886. UC Davis rounded out the top five with an 891.
The weather was much improved over Monday's cold, wet and windy conditions, with the temperature reaching 50 degrees with just overcast skies and light winds.
The Blazers will next be in action April 7-8 when they compete at the Reunion Intercollegiate in Madison, Miss. The event will be the final regular season tournament prior to the 2009 Conference USA Championships on April 19-21.
