Rice University
UTA/Waterchase Invitational
Owls in Fourth at UTA/Waterchase Invitational
9/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Sept. 20, 2010
UTA/Waterchase Invitational Second Round Results 
FORT WORTH - Following a morning round 298, Rice University's golf team bounced back with a 17-stroke improvement, carding a 281 during Monday's afternoon round and climbing to fourth in the standings with 18 holes to play at the UTA/Waterchase Invitational. The Owls shot a two-round 579 on Monday.
The afternoon's 281 was the best round turned in by a Rice team since Drew Scott became the Owls' coach. The previous best round for a Scott-coached team was a 282 during the second round of the Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational played in February of 2008 in St. George, Utah. The Owls also shot a 282 during the Louisiana Classics played in Lafayette, La., in March of 2009.
A year ago at the UTA/Waterchase Invitational, Rice fired a second-round 283 en route to the first of two team titles during the season.
"We actually played well this morning but we were seven-over the last three holes of the round," Scott said. "We didn't finish strong. This afternoon we did."
Rice senior Michael Whitehead was steady Monday and heads into the final round tied for 10th with a 143 (72-71). Fellow senior Robert Burrow rebounded from a first round that included a quadruple bogey on the final hole to shoot a 68 Monday afternoon. He is tied for 15th with a two-round score of 144 (76-68).
Rice freshman Jeff Wibawa is also tied for 15th at the tournament. He was 39 on the front nine of the second round before shooting a 32 to finish the circuit with a one-under 71. Erik Mayer fired a collegiate career-best 71 Monday afternoon and is tied for 44th with a two-round score of 148 (77-71).
North Texas has a 10-stroke lead over the field with a two-round score of 556. Conference USA member Southern Miss is currently second with a 566. Santa Clara is third, just five strokes in front of the Owls with a two-round score of 574. Two strokes back of the Owls is Louisiana Tech in fifth.
Southern Miss golfer Derek Plucienski and Texas Wesleyan's Armando Villarreal are tied for first after two rounds with 36-hole scores of 133. Both shot a 65 during Monday's play - Villarreal in the morning and Plucienski during Monday's afternoon round.
The final round will feature foursomes with the Owls paired with UNT, USM and Santa Clara on Tuesday. A shotgun start is set for 8 a.m.
"We just want to keep it going," Scott said. "We want the guys to be aggressive. We have a great opportunity to put up another good round tomorrow and see where that puts us."
