Gardner Finishes 2nd, Isakson with Final-Round 66

Tuesday, March 10

Augusta Pines Golf Club – Spring, Texas

University of Houston

Colin Montgomerie Invitational

Colin Montgomerie Final-Round recap, George Gardner

3/10/2020 2:56:00 PM | Men's Golf

Senior fires 67 Tuesday on way to career-best finish

Scoring \| Results

Team		Rounds				Score
		1	2	3	F
1.	UT Rio Grande Valley	292	285	290	867	+3
2.	Midland CC	287	286	296	869	+5
t2.	New Orleans	284	292	293	869	+5
4.	Weber State	292	298	284	874	+10
5.	Houston Baptist	290	295	291	876	+12
6.	Abilene Christian	291	292	295	878	+14
7.	Stephen F. Austin	297	293	293	883	+19
8.	UIW	296	297	291	884	+20
9.	Southeastern Louisiana	303	292	297	892	+28
10.	McNeese	300	299	299	898	+34
11.	North Dakota	318	302	303	923	+59
12.	Prairie View A&M	308	314	307	929	+65

HOUSTON LEADERS
		1	2	3	F
2.	George Gardner (Ind.)	70	76	67	213	-3
t26.	Laurence Crea (Ind.)	75	71	75	221	+5
t48.	Alex Isakson (Ind.)	83	77	66	226	+10

OVERALL LEADERS
		1	2	3	F
1.	JT Pittman Midland CC	71	69	72	212	-4
t2.	George Gardner (Ind.) Houston	70	76	67	213	-3
t3.	Isaac Buerger Weber State	69	74	71	214	-2
t3.	John Hill UIW	71	71	72	214	-2
t5.	Ryan Riihinen North Dakota	74	72	69	215	-1
t5.	Tae Itthiratchai UT Rio Grande Valley	74	68	73	215	-1

SPRING, Texas – University of Houston senior George Gardner fired a bogey-free 67 in the Final Round of the Colin Montgomerie Invitational on Tuesday afternoon to finish second at 3-under 213.

Starting the Final Round on No. 16, the Southlake, Texas, native made par on each of his first four holes before draining a birdie on the par-5 second hole on the 7,041-yard, par-72 layout at Augusta Springs Golf Club.

His score would stay there until a strong finish on his final four holes. Gardner's rally started with a birdie on the par-4 12^th hole and continued with an eagle on the par-5 13^th hole.

After a par on No. 14, Gardner made birdie on his final hole of the tournament for the best finish of his career. He topped his previous best of eighth at the Bentwater Intercollegiate (Oct. 7-8, 2019) and the Bayou City Collegiate Classic (Oct. 10-11, 2016).

As impressive as Gardner's finish was, he had the Cougars' second-best round of the day. Senior Alex Isakson sank seven birdies with only one bogey for the lowest round of his collegiate career.

Isakson opened the day with a birdie on No. 18 but gave the stroke back with a bogey on No. 1. Fortunately, that would be the final blemish on his scorecard.

He returned to red numbers with a birdie on No. 3 and added two birdies in a 3-hole stretch on Nos. 6-8. After a par on No. 9, the Argyle, Texas, native added birdies on No. 10, No. 13 and No. 17 to tie for 48^th at 226.

Isakson's round topped his previous low of 71, set during the First Round of the Border Olympics on March 11, 2019.

Junior Laurence Crea tied for 26^th at 221.

UT Rio Grande Valley won the team championship with a score of 867 to finish two shots ahead of New Orleans and Midland Community College. Weber State finished fourth at 874.

Midland CC's JT Pittman drained a birdie on his final hole of the day to finish at 4-under 212 and avoid a playoff with Gardner for medalist honors.

The Colin Montgomerie Invitational was a recent addition to the Cougars' spring schedule.

UP NEXT
Following the Colin Montgomerie Invitational, the Cougars will compete at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational at Floridian National Golf Club in Palm City, Fla., on March 16-17.

From there, the team will tee off at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 4-5.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMGolf on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMGolf. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarmgolf.