Men’s golf team ‘makes statement’ in match play
Competing in the Match Play Championships, the Frogs advanced two rounds before falling to the eventual champs.
By Danny Gillham
Sports Editor

The men’s golf team puts away its clubs, tournament speaking, for the winter after finishing fourth at the Collegiate Match Play Championships in Myrtle Beach, S.C

.The tournament was composed of the top 16 finishing teams at the 2002 NCAA Division I Championships. The Frogs finished 11th at the championships.

Of the 16 teams, the Frogs were seeded No. 6 to start the tournament.

The Frogs defeated No. 11 seed Georgia Tech in the first round, 3 1/2 to 1/2. The Yellow Jackets were ranked first in the Precept Coaches Poll heading into the tournament. The team then ousted the third seed Texas Longhorns, in a close 3-to-2 matchup.

The Frogs lost to No. 2 Augusta State, the eventual champions, in the semi-finals 3 to 2. The team would then drop its third-place match against fifth-seeded Arizona.

Head coach Bill Montigel said he was pleased with the outcome of the tournament.

“The guys really enjoyed themselves, and it was fun playing a different format in match play,” Montigel said. “They don’t get a chance play a lot of match play at the collegiate level.”

Montigel pointed out that freshman Colby Beckstrom and senior Adam Rubinson performed well against some of the most talented players in the country.

Beckstrom, Conference USA’s Golfer of the Month in October, defeated Matthew Rosenfeld of Texas 3 and 1.

Rubinson defeated Arizona’s Ricky Barnes 3 and 2 in the Frogs’ last match. Barnes won the 2002 U.S. Amateur Championships.

Rubinson said the team’s showing at the championships hopefully shows that the Frogs are a permanent national contender.

“We wanted to go out there an make a statement in the tournament,” Rubinson said. “I think we let everyone know that our lineup is very strong, and is not scared of anyone. We feel if we’re playing our best that we can beat anybody.”

The team now has three months until its next tournament, when it tees off at the Waikoloa Intercollegiate Feb. 12-14.

Rubinson said the team will be able to take its strong showing at the championships and translate it into a successful spring.

“This definitely gives us momentum,” Rubinson said. “We know that we can play with and beat anybody in the country.”

d.r.gillham@tcu.edu