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Rice University Athletics
Golf Opens Fall Slate at Sam Hall Intercollegiate
9/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - In its first action since the 2014 NCAA Regional in May, Rice University men's golf opens its fall schedule at the Sam Hall Intercollegiate on Sept. 8-9. The tournament begins with 36 holes on Monday and the final 18 holes on Tuesday. The defending Conference USA champion heads to Hattiesburg for the season opener for a fifth-straight year. In 2013-14, the Owls tied for 11th place at 14-over par at Hattiesburg Country Club.
Head coach Justin Emil sends all three seniors to the event in Joe Beck III, Tommy Economou and Jeff Wibawa, along with junior James Lee and sophomore Kevin Reilly. Freshman Mario Carmona will make his Blue and Gray debut competing as an individual at the tournament as well.
Emil said, "The first road trip of the year is always special. The guys have had a great first two weeks and now it's time to get out there and compete. I'm really excited to have Jeff back in the lineup coming off his injury last season. He is playing well and looks really strong and healthy. Kevin is coming off one of his best summer performances and looks ready to compete. Tommy looks great coming off a solid spring season. James posted our best round in last week's qualifying and has worked extremely hard over the summer. Joe had a solid finish to his summer tournament schedule and Mario has made an early statement in his first few weeks as an Owl. Hattiesburg Country Club is a great course and there are several great teams in the field this week. It should be a good challenge."
Rice's Lineup
Joe Beck III, Sr., Austin, Texas
2013-14: 76.91 Stroke Avg. | 23 Rounds | Career Low: 70
Low round last season (72) came at the Sam Hall Intercollegiate ... 2014 Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll member ... holds a 77.11 stroke average spanning 80 rounds.
Tommy Economou, Sr., Hillsborough, Calif.
2013-14: 74.69 Stroke Avg. | 26 Rounds | Career Low: 69
Averages 75.85 strokes through 74 career rounds ... 2014 GCAA Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar ... 2014 Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll member ... led the Owls in three of the team's final four tournaments in 2013-14, including a third-place finish at the C-USA Championship.
James Lee, Jr., Albuquerque, N.M.
2013-14: 74.94 Stroke Avg. | 32 Rounds | Career Low: 69
Averages 75.68 strokes over 59 career rounds ... 2014 Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll member ... put together a strong performance at the Conference USA Championship, carding a 78-70-75-223 (+13) to claim 32nd place and help the Owls to the title.
Kevin Reilly, Soph., Oviedo, Fla.
2013-14: 72.63 Stroke Avg. | 35 Rounds | Career Low: 66
2014 Conference USA Freshman of the Year ... second team all-Conference USA ... C-USA all-freshman team ... 2014 Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll member ... led the team in scoring in eight out of 12 tournaments and ranked second on the team in two more ... advanced to the final 32 at the 2014 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.
Jeff Wibawa, R-Sr. Encino, Calif.
2012-13: 74.67 Stroke Avg. | 27 Rounds | Career Low: 67
Redshirted last season while recovering from an injury ... was Rice's scoring leader in his sophomore and junior seasons and ranked second on the team as a freshman in 2010-11 ... averages 73.78 strokes over 95 rounds through three seasons.
(Individual) Mario Carmona, Fr., Houston, Texas
Collegiate Debut
Posted four top-10 finishes in six tournaments and led Memorial in stroke average as a senior ... placed fourth at the District 19 5A Championship with a 72-75-147 at River Ridge Golf ... finished in his team's top two in five tournaments as the Mustangs claimed three event titles and one second place finish as well ... low round of the season came in October when he carded a 69 at the A&M Consolidated Tournament en route to a fourth-place finish overall and a team championship.
Joining the Owls and host Southern Miss at the event are UALR, Arkansas State, Jackson State, 2013 tournament champion Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Sam Houston State, South Alabama, Southeastern Louisiana, Tennessee Tech and UTSA. Hattiesburg Country Club features a par-71, 6,902-yard course.
After a practice round on Sunday, play opens at 8:30 a.m. on Monday with shotgun starts for both rounds. The 15-team field wraps up the event with tee times beginning at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.
