By
Kyle Faraday
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Beyer only Wildcat in top-10
The Arizona men's golf team shot its worst team score of the year en route to a 12th place finish at the Golf World Invitational in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
While the three-day total of 862 was good for a two-under par, it was well behind the team score of 822 that was posted by tournament winner Georgia. Georgia Tech and Oklahoma State rounded out the top three.
The weakness in scoring did not sit well with the Wildcats.
"We didn't play well as a team, and that's what it takes to win one of these tournaments," junior Cody Beyer said. "We just can't seem to put all of our rounds together at once."
Beyer logged the best UA score, shooting a 12-under-par 204, good for a sixth-place individual finish in the tournament. Beyer's sixth place is his highest finish of the season.
Anders Hultman of Oklahoma State won the tournament by shooting a 19-under-par 195.
Sophomore Reid Hatley also came in under-par for the Wildcats, shooting four-under-par 212 in the tournament.
Arizona assistant coach John Knauer said that it is only a matter of time before the Wildcats have a breakthrough in their play.
"We have had every one of our top five (golfers) play well at some point this season, it has just been a matter of getting all of them to play well at the same time," he said. "There is so much talent on this team, we just need to get off to better starts."
Sophomore Ricky Barnes finished in 75th place after posting a final round 74, and freshman Andy Connel shot a three-day total of 250 to wind up in 86th place.
Freshman Chris Nallen - who shot five-over-par for the tournament said that the experience gained every week is invaluable to the team.
"We just need to continue to work hard and good things will happen," Nallen said.
Knauer agreed.
"Nobody on this team is motivated by personal goals," he said. "We are all in this to be a successful golf team."
