Men's Golf Team Finishes In Sixth In Rain-Shortened Jerry Pate
Senior John Darby shoots one-under par 69 to set pace
UABSPORTS.COM Sophomore Blake Watts finished in a tie for 20th overall in the rain-shortened Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate.
UABSPORTS.COM
Sophomore Blake Watts finished in a tie for 20th overall in the rain-shortened Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate.
 UABSPORTS.COM

Oct. 13, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB men's golf team finished in sixth overall in the rain-shortened Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate on Tuesday afternoon, carding a team score of four-over par 284. The 54-hole, three round event was shortened to only 18 holes after Monday's opening two rounds were postponed due to incliment weather.

With the sixth-place finish, the Blazers bested seventh-place and No. 32 Auburn (285), No. 13 SMU (8th place - 286) and No. 23 Arkansas (ninth place - 289). Additionally, the Blazers' team score of 284 set the benchmark for the 2009-10 season.

"We finally played up to our ability," UAB head coach Alan Kaufman said. "We were able to beat three top-30 teams, which will certainly help our team's confidence. The course conditions were tough, especially considering the amount of rainfall we have had over the last 24 hours, but I am proud of our effort today."

The Blazers were led on the day by senior John Darby, who finished the event with a one-under par 69 to lead his team. As a result, Darby, who leads UAB in stroke average this season at 73.0, finished in 11th place overall, which is his best finish of any tournament during his Blazer career.

Sophomore Blake Watts finished two strokes back of Darby with a one-over par 71 to place in a tie for 20th overall. Redshirt freshman Austen Dailey and senior Blake West both carded a two-over par 72 to finish tied for 29th overall, while freshman Philip Kaiser rounded out the Blazers with an 81 on the par-71, 6,936-yard Old Overton Country Club.

Alabama, ranked No. 42 in the nation, swept the awards at the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, winning both the team and individual trophies. The Crimson Tide posted a team score of 273 (-7). Hunter Hamrick shot a 65 (-5) to earn the medalist honor.

 

 

Texas, who was the highest ranked team in the field at No. 5 in the nation, finished second with a 276, followed by East Tennessee State and No. 11 UNLV who tied for third with a 280. Louisville rounded out the top five with a 281.

The Blazers will return to action next week when they compete at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate on Oct. 16-18 in Johnson City, Tenn.