Morris Williams Intercollegiate: Texas sweeps
UT photo
AUSTIN, Texas (April 8, 2009)--Texas redshirt freshman Bobby Hudson fired a six-under 65 -- good for a new course record -- to take medalist honors and lead the Longhorns to victory Tuesday at the 42nd annual Morris Williams Intercollegiate at the par 71, 7,412-yard University of Texas Golf Club.
Texas vaulted past 36-hole leader Oklahoma State, whom UT trailed by four strokes heading into Tuesday’s final round, and then-second place UNLV, with a three-over 287 in the final round to win the team championship by six strokes over the sixth-ranked Cowboys. With its 54-hole total of 868 strokes at three-over par, Texas also defeated top-ranked Alabama, who placed seventh overall.
The Longhorns registered their 12th title in the event’s 42nd edition and in the event’s first appearance at The University of Texas Golf Club. Texas captured the Morris Williams individual and team championships for the first time since 2002, when John Klauk took top honors with a six-under 210 at the Austin Country Club and the Longhorns took top team honors with a 19-over 883.
Hudson becomes UT’s 12th medalist in the event, as he joins the likes of current and former PGA Tour veterans Ben Crenshaw, Payne Stewart, Fred Couples, Phil Mickelson and Justin Leonard as medalists of the Morris Williams Intercollegiate. Hudson’s 65 in Tuesday’s final round matches the previous low 18-hole score turned in at The University of Texas Golf Club by Texas-Ex Jhonattan Vegas last summer. However, the course played at 7,200 yards before the addition of new tee boxes lengthened the course to its new layout of 7,412 yards.
Texas claimed its first tournament title since November of 2006, when it claimed the Aloha Purdue Collegiate in Hawaii. Hudson joins Texas sophomore Charlie Holland as a medalist during the 2007-08 season. Holland captured the Fresno State Lexus Classic last month.
Hudson (Memphis, Tenn.), who began the day tied for sixth place, opened with a 31 on the front nine with birdies at the first, third, sixth and ninth holes. The 2007 Tennessee State Amateur Champion, Hudson played mistake-free golf from start to finish, ending the round with six birdies and not a single bogey. Hudson won the 78-player event with a five-under 208.
Holland nailed down a one-two Texas finish with his even-par 71 in Tuesday’s final round. Holland opened with a 36 on the front nine and followed with a 35 on the back nine to take second with a 10-under 212 and collect his fourth top-three finish of the season.
Sophomore Lance Lopez closed with a 76 in round three and tied for 23rd place with a nine-over 222. Senior Jace Moore tied for 39th place with a 14-over 227, and senior Kevin Schultz tied for 67th place with a 23-over 236.
Texas now awaits the 2008 Big 12 Championship set for April 25-27 at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas.