Three Day Format Awaits Owls in San Antonio
10/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Oct. 14, 2011
Two weeks removed from its last tournament, the Rice golf team returns to competition this weekend as the Owls compete in the Third Annual Lone Star Invitational at Briggs Ranch. The tournament hosted by Texas-San Antonio runs Sunday through Tuesday at Briggs Ranch Golf Club (Par 72, 7,258 Yards) in San Antonio.
The upcoming tournament marks the only time this fall the Owls will compete in a three-day format. Following practice rounds on Saturday, teams will play 18 holes the next three days. First-round tee times on Sunday begin at 11 a.m. from the No. 1 and No. 10 tees at Briggs Ranch.
Most collegiate tournaments consists of a 36-hole first day followed by 18 holes the next.
The 15-team field for this year's Lone Star Invitational includes 11 teams from the state of Texas - Baylor, Houston, North Texas, Rice, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas-Arlington, UTEP and UTSA. Rounding out the tournament field is Arizona, New Mexico, Southern Miss and Weber State.
The Rice lineup was set on Thursday. The Owls' will travel a veteran squad to San Antonio - senior Erik Mayer, junior Brock Wilson and sophomores Chris Contreras, James Hiester and Jeff Wibawa.
Four of the five traveling have competed as part of the team before. For Hiester, this will be the first time he will look to have his score figured in the Owls' team score after playing in last year's Rice Intercollegiate as an individual.
Wibawa leads the team with a 72.17 strokes per round average. At the Louisiana Tech Squire Creek Intercollegiate two weeks ago, Wibawa led the Owls with a tie for 14th. The Rice sophomore finished with a three-round score of 219 (+3).
Mayer ranks second on the squad with a 73.67 strokes per round average.
"The guys are excited about UTSA's tournament at Briggs Ranch," said Rice coach Justin Emil. "We had a great week of practice and played some awesome courses over Fall Break. Chris Contreras is playing well and is headed to a course he is very familiar with in his hometown.
"It should be a great week for the Owls and less demanding with a three-day event instead of 54 holes in two days."
Following the Lone Star Invitational, the Owls close out the fall season Oct. 24-25 at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate in Las Cruces, N.M.
Players Mentioned
