Wildcat men having troubles on course

For the second straight tournament the Wildcats finished next to last, placing an astronomical 32 shots behind first place UNLV, at the nine team Cleveland Golf/Morris Williams Intercollegiate in Austin, Texas. The result is the Wildcats worst performance this season.

Over spring break, Arizona took 14th in the rainshortened Golf Digest Invitational, also held in Texas.

The tournament's third round was cancelled yesterday due to heavy rain.

The Wildcats top two players, freshman Derek Gillespie and junior Rory Sabbatini, had one of their worst showings of the season, placing 47th and 53rd overall. Sophomore Todd Rose lead the Wildcats with a 10-over par 154, 11 shots behind individual winner Victor Schwamkrug of Houston. Schwamkrug was the only player to finish under par on the par-72, 6,813 yard course at The Mills of Lakeway.

Oklahoma State finished in second place at 17-over par 593, while Houston, Florida and TCU tied for third at 19-over par 595. Texas came in a distant sixth, 20 shots behind the trio of schools in third place.

Sophomore Andy Barnes and senior Gary Matthews finished at 11-over par 155, placing them in a tie for 27th place.

At the Golf Digets Invitational, Arizona finished the two round tourney at 35-over par 611, 23 strokes behind winner New Mexico. UNLV came in second place one shot behind the Lobos. Clemson took home third place and Houston, Texas Christian and ASU tied for 4th.

In the race for the individual title, Sabbatini shot a 2-over par 146 to tie for eighth place overall. Barnes and Rose tied for 51st place, nine shots behind Sabbatini. Other scores of note for Arizona include Matthews at 13-over par 157 and Gillespie at 15-over 159.

The Wildcats have a much needed two weeks off before they compete in the PING MacGregor Downs on April 12-13.