While the Rice golf team had put together a disappointing season, the Conference-USA Tournament presented an opportunity to make postseason play. Instead, the Owls finished in last place at their conference tournament, ending a poor season.
Despite solid play over the first two rounds of the Jim West Intercollegiate, the Rice University golf team was unable to carry that momentum to a high finish. While a disappointing final round left the Owls' in 10th place, there were still positive signs moving forward.
Looking to gather some momentum heading into their home stretch, the Rice golf team instead faltered at the Argent Financial Classic, finishing in last place.
Seeking to capitalize on the positive vibes from the Lone Star Invitational, the golf team traveled to Las Cruces, New Mexico for the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate. Instead of another positive finish, they left New Mexico with a bit ter taste in their mouths from a last-place finish.
Going into Tuesday's final round, sophomore Jeff Wibawa sat four shots back of the tournament's leader. With the winds boosting scores during the final round, Wibawa emerged with an even-par 72 and his first career individual tournament victory.
While they did not know it at the time, the golf team finished a disappointing season with a poor performance at the Conference USA Tournament in Drew Scott's final event as head coach.
After a late charge up the leaderboard at the 60th Border Olympics on Mar. 25-26, the golf team looked to do the same at the Bancorp South Intercollegiate hosted by the University of Mississippi in Madison, Miss. Instead, Mother Nature intervened, shortening the tournament to 36 holes and leaving the Owls in 13th place after the two rounds.
With seven top-10 finishes in the year, including a second place finish against a stacked field at the recent Duck Invitational on Mar. 21- 22, senior Michael Whitehead was bound to break through at some point. That point came on Saturday at the 60th Border Olympics in Laredo, when Whitehead finished with a final-round 62 for his first collegiate victory.
Senior Michael Whitehead has played a terrific senior season so far, and his performance at the Bulldog Classic last weekend fit in with the theme of his season.
Under sunny skies and with an uncharacteristically calm wind at Westwood Golf Club, the golf team posted their best finish of the season thus far.Coming off a disappointing performance at last week's UTSA Oak Hills Invitational that saw the Owls finish their rounds poorly, Rice looked to bounce back strongly at a tournament they have had success at in the past. Rice took the team title in 2010 at their only home event, while Christopher Brown (Brown '10) was able to take the individual title in windy conditions that kept score high.
