University of Houston Athletics
Golf to Compete at Border Olympics this Weekend
3/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
March 16, 2006
LAREDO, Texas - It will be a short week for the University of Houston golf team as they prepare to compete at the Border Olympics beginning Friday.
The 54-hole event begins with 36 holes on Friday before wrapping up with the final 18 holes on Saturday.
The Cougars join a competitive field on the 7,241-yard, par-72 course at Laredo Country Club, including UTEP, Baylor, Lamar, New Mexico State, North Texas, Arkansas-Little Rock, Southeastern Louisiana, Washington State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Memphis, South Alabama, Texas-Arlington, Texas State, Rice and Notre Dame.
The Cougars come into the meet after sharing the team championship with host South Carolina-Aiken at the Palmetto Intercollegiate in Aiken, S.C., on Tuesday. It was the second straight season that the Cougars shared the crown with the Pacers after UH's travel plans forced the team to leave before a playoff could break the tie.
With the win, the Cougars won at least a share of their fourth consecutive team title. It was the first time since the 1984-85 won its first five tournaments to open the year that UH reeled off that many consecutive team titles.
A year ago, the Cougars finished fifth at this tournament with a team score of 882. Junior Ricky Romano moved into the team lead with a 71.8 scoring average after tying for fourth at the Palmetto Intercollegiate earlier this week with a score of 216.
However, sophomore Jordan Irwin captured the spotlight by winning medalist honors at the Palmetto Intercollegiate for the second straight season at 1-under-par 212. He was the only golfer to break par for the entire tournament.
With that in mind, he was honored this week as the Conference USA Golfer of the Week. It was his first weekly award from the league but the third such honor for the Cougars in 2005-06.
Junior Pablo Acuna is second on the team with a 72.0 scoring average, while Irwin is third at 72.6, followed by senior Zach Mowbray's 72.8 average.
