Rice Leads UTA/Waterchase Invitational

Monday, September 21

Fort Worth, Texas

All Day

Rice University

UTA / Waterchase Invitational

9/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf

Sept. 21, 2009

UTA/Waterchase Invitational Results in PDF Format

FORT WORTH - Rice senior Michael Buttacavoli shares the individual lead after 36 holes and the Owls head into Tuesday's final round of the UTA/Waterchase Invitational with a three stroke lead over the 19-team field.

"I'm very excited about our chances tomorrow," said Rice coach Drew Scott. "We are eager to have an opportunity to go out and play another strong round like we did this afternoon."

Rice was tied for third after the morning round Monday but had three players card sub-par rounds during afternoon play. The Owls finished with a 283 team score Monday afternoon and for the day shot a 572 (-4)

Buttacavoli missed the 2009 spring season with a knee injury. He was the runner-up in the last collegiate tournament he played (Pacific Invitational) and will set his sights on his first individual title as an Owl.

Rice holds a three-stroke lead over host Texas-Arlington and is six strokes in front of Wichita State which is currently in third place.

Buttacavoli carded a morning-round 70 before firing a 68 later in the day. At six-under par for the tournament, he heads into Tuesday's final round tied with Wichita State's Dustin Garza for the individual lead.

After struggling during morning play, senior Christopher Brown came back from a first-round 78 to card a 69 to help pace the Owls during the second round.

Junior Michael Whitehead shot a 71 Monday afternoon and is currently tied for ninth with an even-par, two-round score of 144.

All five Rice golfers figured into the team's scoring Monday. Freshman Jade Scott is tied for 27th with a two-round score of 147. Sophomore Benjamin Thorseth shot a 74 Monday morning and is tied for 46th with a two-round score of 149.

Tuesday's final-round play begins at 8 a.m. at Waterchase Golf Club.