University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Ready at 3M Augusta Invite
3/31/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
| 3M Augusta Invitational | |
|---|---|
| Live Scoring | Golfstat |
| Lineup | Michael Perras Papito Gonzalez Matt Williams Zach Tracy Pryce Beshoory |
| Time | Saturday, April 1 • 36 holes First-Round Pairings 7:30 a.m. (CDT) shotgun start
|
| Location | Forest Hills Golf Club Augusta, Ga. 7,005 yards • Par 72 |
| Season Stats | Statistics |
| Social Media |    |
AUGUSTA, Ga. â€" The University of Houston Men's Golf program closes out its 2016-17 regular season when it tees off at 7:30 a.m. (CDT) Saturday with the first day of the 3M Augusta Invitational at Forest Hills Golf Club.
The Cougars will play 36 holes Saturday with the final 18 holes beginning at 7:30 a.m. (CDT) Sunday, on the 7,005-yard, par-72 course.
This marks the 11th straight season in which the Cougars will compete at this tournament. In addition to facing some of the nation's elite programs, the team also enjoys watching professional golf at the end of the trip.
With the completion of Sunday's play, the Cougars will head to Augusta National Golf Club on Monday morning to watch the first practice rounds during the week of The Masters before flying home to Houston on Monday night.
LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring from 3M Augusta Invitational by visiting Golfstat.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.
TEAM FIELD
The tournament features four of the nation's top-20 programs and seven of the top 50 at the NCAA Division I and Division II levels.
The Cougars, who stand at No. 48 in the latest Golfstat national rankings face No. 10 Wake Forest, No. 11 Illinois, No. 14 Oklahoma, No. 20 Georgia, host and 50th-ranked Augusta, UAB, Army, UCF, Georgia State, Mercer, New Mexico, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
South Carolina-Aiken is ranked No. 17 in the latest NCAA Division II poll.
LINEUP
Michael Perras â€" Leads Cougars with 71.59 average, six rounds in the 60s and 15 rounds of par or better… Has posted top-20 finishes in six of his last seven tournaments… Tied for fourth with score of 6-under 138 in rain shortened Border Olympics at Laredo Country Club (March 10-11.)… Tied for seventh at 4-under 212 to lead the Cougars at the All-American Intercollegiate presented by Coca-Cola at Golf Club of Houston (Feb. 17-19)… Was the 2016 NCAA Franklin Regional individual champion at 16-under 200 at Vanderbilt Legends Club… Native of Deer Park, Texas, and product of Deer Park High School.
Papito Gonzalez â€" Second among Cougars with 71.30 average and 14 rounds of par or better … Tied for eighth at Bayou City Collegiate Classic at 1-under 215… Opened that tournament with consecutive sub-par rounds… Opened Maui Jim Intercollegiate with career-low 67 and followed with 70… Led Cougars and tied for 13th at 5-under 208 on Sept. 23-25… Native of McAllen, Texas, and product of Memorial High School.
Matt Williams â€" Third among Cougars with 72.24 ¬¬average with eight rounds of par or better… Opened The Hootie at Bulls Bay with a 70 and tied for 38th at that tournament with a score of 218… Tied for eighth at the rain-shortened Border Olympics with score of 4-under 140 at Laredo Country Club (March 10-11)… Opened that tournament with a 69… Posted a career-low-tying 68 in the Second Round of the Maui Jim Intercollegiate (Sept. 24, 2016).
Zach Tracy â€" Fourth on team with 72.43 average but stands third with 13 rounds of par or better… Enjoyed top-11 finishes in his two of his last four tournaments… Opened The Hootie at Bulls Bay with back-to-back 72s and tied for 40th at 218… Fired three straight sub-par rounds to tie for third at 4-under 212 at the Colin Montgomerie Invitational at Cypresswood Golf Club in Spring (Feb. 27-28)… Made his collegiate debut a memorable one… Posted three straight rounds of par or better at Bayou City Collegiate Classic to lead Cougars and tie for fifth at 2-under 214 at Golfcrest Country Club in Pearland, Texas... Sat out as a redshirt with the Cougars in 2015-16… Native of Houston and product of Seven Lakes High School.
Pryce Beshoory â€" 73.05 average with six rounds of par or better… Opened and closed Royal Oaks Intercollegiate with sub-par rounds and tied for 21st at 215 (Oct. 24-25)… Native of Pearland, Texas, and product of Lutheran South Academy… Member of Pearland Little League team, which finished fourth at 2010 Little League World Series.
FIRST-DAY PAIRINGS
Saturday's First Round tees off with a 7:30 a.m. (CDT) shotgun start. The Cougars will compete in groups with New Mexico and UAB.
Gonzalez begins in the first group off No. 9 with Perras (second group off No. 9), Tracy (first group off No. 10), Williams (second group off No. 10) and Beshoory (No. 11) following.
LAST TIME OUT
The Cougars posted a team score of 875 to finish 12th at The Hootie at Bulls Bay at Bulls Bay Golf Club in Awendaw, S.C.
Playing as an individual, senior Matt Scobie posted back-to-back even-par 72s to close out the tournament and tied for 30th at 217 to lead the Cougars. Sophomore Matt Williams enjoyed a tournament-low 70 in the First Round and tied for 38th.
UP NEXT
Following the 3M Augusta Invitational, the Cougars enter the postseason when they compete on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Golf Club in Clearwater, Fla., on May 1-3.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarGolf on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at HoustonCougarGolf. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarmgolf.
