Sept. 13, 2007
WACO, Texas - The Baylor men's golf team will tee off in the 53rd William H. Tucker Invitational on Friday and Saturday at the University of New Mexico Championship Course in Albuquerque, N.M.
A shot gun tee off will be held on Friday at 7:30 a.m. with 36 holes on the first day. The final round will be Saturday with tee times beginning at 7:30 a.m.
On Tuesday, Baylor won its first tournament of the fall season, shooting 9-over par to take the Saint Mary's Invitational by four shots over UAB. Wes Williams (Franklin, Tenn.) won his first career tournament, finishing at 2-over par.
The same Baylor squad will compete this weekend in New Mexico, led by Williams. Freshman Cody Paladino (Kennington, Conn.) was the second finisher for the Bears last weekend as he placed 12th overall at 4-over par.
Colton Williams (Jacksboro, Texas) and Bill Allcorn (Abilene, Texas) both toed for 22nd overall at 6-over par, while Jeff Gerlich (Austin, Texas) finished at 11-over par in a tie for 41st overall.
This marks the 53rd year of the Tucker, one of the most prestigious college golf tournaments in the country. Held at the Championship Course every year since 1967, the Tucker is the second oldest collegiate tournament in the country, behind only the New England Intercollegiate Golf Tournament in Brewster, Mass.
The William H. Tucker will be played on the Championship Course at the University of New Mexico. Since it was officially opened in 1967, The Championship Golf Course has been one of the finest facilities of its kind nationwide. It has been nationally recognized by Golf Digest Magazine as one of the top-25 public courses in the country, and by Golfweek Magazine as the No. 1 course to play in New Mexico. The course is still holding strong in the rankings, and was recently tabbed by Golfweek as the No. 9 collegiate course in the nation.
The Championship Course is no stranger to major tournaments. It was the site of the 1976, 1992 and 1998 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships as well as 1991, 1995 and 2002 NCAA West Regionals, Nationwide Tour events and the New Mexico State Open. In 1987 the course was the site of the Women's NCAA Championships and will again host the ladies championships in 2008. The Championship Course has been home to the William H. Tucker Invitational for the past 39 years, as well as being home to three Western Athletic Conference men's championships (1979, 1982, 1989).
Like most class layouts, The Championship Course flashes a personality all its own. The 7,350-yard, par-72 course boasts fairways that stretch out long and wide, bobbing up and down, both right and left - all factors that make it difficult to reach the rolling, well-manicured greens. Stray shots often land in the rough, loose desert sand, water or sagebrush. Live scoring for the event can be followed via GolfStat on www.GoLobos.com.
