University of Houston Athletics
Golf Begin Busy Week at Rice Intercollegiate on Monday
2/19/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Feb. 19, 2012
| RICE INTERCOLLEGIATE | |
|---|---|
| Time | 8 a.m. • 36 holes • Monday, Feb. 20, 2012 8 a.m. • 18 holes • Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012 |
| Location | Westwood Country Club • Houston, Texas 7,184 yards • Par 72 |
| Live Scoring | GolfStat.com |
| Field | Rice (host), Air Force, Florida Gulf Coast Houston Baptist, Houston, Kansas State, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana Tech, Missouri State Northwestern, New Mexico State, Texas State UTSA, Wichita State, Winthrop |
| Statistics | Season Statistics  |
| Social Media |  Facebook •  Twitter |
HOUSTON - The University of Houston golf team begins a busy week Monday when it begins play at the Rice Intercollegiate at Westwood Country Club.
The 54-hole tournament begins with an 8 a.m., shotgun start Monday. The final 18 holes tees off at 8 a.m., Tuesday, on the 7,184-yard, par-72 course. Fans can follow live scoring by visiting GolfStat.com or by clicking here.
Once the Rice Intercollegiate is finished, the Cougars will enjoy a short break before leaving for the West Coast on Thursday. Houston competes at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate on Saturday and Sunday.
Despite the challenges of playing two tournaments in two different time zones in less than a week, head coach Jonathan Dismuke was part of elevating the program's profile.
"The Rice Intercollegiate is an event that we are going to play. It's in our hometown and we love playing in Houston. We don't have the chance to do that very often," Dismuke said. "Competing at Wyoming's event in Palm Springs, which features one of the premier fields of the spring, was a great opportunity that we couldn't turn down.
"Many times you don't choose your schedule as much as your schedule chooses you. We have to go where the great opportunities are. If those opportunities are back-to-back, then we play back to back."
THE FIELD
The Cougars are part of a 15-team field at the Rice Intercollegiate. That group includes Air Force, Florida Gulf Coast, Houston Baptist, Kansas State, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana Tech, Missouri State, Northwestern, New Mexico State, Texas State, UTSA, Wichita State and Winthrop.
THE LINEUP
The Cougars enter this week's event after finishing ninth at the spring-opening UTSA Oak Hills Invitational on Feb. 13-14.
"We are working hard on many things right now. We addressed some issues that caused us some problems in San Antonio," Dismuke said.
At that event, freshman Roman Robledo posted back-to-back rounds of even-par 71 to tie for 22nd and lead the Cougars. It was the third time this season that the Harlingen, Texas, native has led the Cougars.
Robledo ranks second on the team with a 73.20 scoring average but tops the Cougars with six rounds or par or better and fired a 66 in the second round at the Lone Star Invitational on Oct. 16, 2011.
Junior James Ross lead the Cougars with a 73.17 scoring average and posted a 64 in the second round of the Royal Oaks Intercollegiate on Oct. 31, 2011. He became only the fourth player in school history to shoot a 64 or better in a round.
Sophomore Jesse Droemer will make his spring debut and ranks third on the team with a 74.00 scoring average, while sophomore Curtis Reed stands third on the squad with four rounds of par or better this season.
Freshman Kyle Pilgrim will make his collegiate debut after a stellar prep career at Colleyville Heritage High, while sophomore Wesley McClain will compete as an individual.
As the team heads into their second tournament of the month, Dismuke said he would be closely watching his team's mental preparations in practice and in competition.
"We are a physically gifted team that wants to be really good. Playing as many young guys as we do, there are going to be a lot of ups and downs, and much of that is due to inexperience," Dismuke said. "I want to see a better attitude from our group throughout the round no matter what is happening."
Players Mentioned
