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Rice University Athletics
Rice University
UTA / Waterchase Invitational
Rice Wins UTA/Waterchase Invitational
9/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Sept. 22, 2009
UTA/Waterchase Invitational Final Results 
FORT WORTH - Rice University golfers Michael Buttacavoli, Jade Scott and Michael Whitehead all birdied the final hole as the Owls captured the UTA/Waterchase Invitational by two strokes on Tuesday.
The tournament championship was the Owls' first since the team won the Sacramento State Invitational in 1998.
"It's the first win since I was a fifth-year senior at Rice," said Owls' head coach Drew Scott. "It feels great. We had three birdies on the last hole and that's what sealed it. I am so proud of this team. They have worked hard and deserved to win today."
Rice, which had a three-stroke lead entering Tuesday's final round, shot a two-under par 286 team score and edged host Texas-Arlington by two strokes. The Owls finished with a three-round score of 858 (-6). UTA, which shot a 285 on Tuesday, finished with a three-round score of 860. Wichita State was third, shooting an 872.
Buttacavoli missed the 2009 spring season with a knee injury but was solid in his collegiate return. One of two seniors on this year's squad, he shot an even-par 72 Tuesday and was six-under for the tournament. He finished second for individual medalist honors, two strokes back of Wichita State's Dustin Garza.
"It is a great feeling," Buttacavoli said of the team win. "I gave Christopher Brown (the Owls' other senior) a big hug coming off 18. We've been waiting four years for this. Everybody contributed today. We just grinded it out and that's what it takes to win."
Whitehead and Scott also finished in the Top 10 individually. Whitehead shot a one-under part 71 to finish with a 215 (-1) and tied for fifth. Scott, a freshman playing in his first intercollegiate tournament, fired a team-best 70 for the final round to tie for 10th, finishing with a three-round score of 217
Brown shot a 73 on Tuesday to finish with a 220 score and tied for 16th. Benjamin Thorseth, who also figured into the team's scoring on Monday, shot a 74 Tuesday and his 223, 54-hole score was good for a tie for 31st.
Rice returns to action Oct. 5th when the Owls open play at the Squire Creek Invitational hosted by Louisiana Tech.
Players Mentioned
