March 14, 2009

Complete Border Olympics Results in PDF Format

LAREDO, Texas - Despite inclement conditions, the Baylor men's golf team battled the wind and the rain to capture the 2009 Border Olympics title Saturday at Laredo Country Club.

After shooting 6-under 282 in the second round Friday, the Bears shot a final-round 10-over 298 as a team, but still managed to finish seven strokes ahead at 13-over 877. Arkansas finished second at 20-over 884, followed by Lamar (+22 886), UT Arlington (+24 888) and Notre Dame (+27 891).

Saturday's team tournament title was the first for Baylor since winning the 23-team Hartford Hawks Invitational in Sept. 2008. It is Baylor's first spring tournament crown since winning the Rice Intercollegiate on Feb. 19, 2008.

"We didn't play a great first round Friday," Baylor head men's golf coach Greg Priest said. "The weather in Laredo is typically near 100 degrees, but it was probably closer to 40 today.

UT Arlington's Bobby Massa took home individual medalist honors, carding a 5-under 211. Texas State's Jeff Gerlich finished second at 1-under 215.

Friday, the Bears carded four sub-par rounds, but on Saturday, Baylor managed only one round of par or better. Senior Bill Allcorn posted Baylor's best individual finish at 2-over 218 for fourth place overall. Sophomore Cody Paladino finished tied for eighth at 4-over 220. Redshirt freshman Lorenzo Scotto shot a 5-over 221 to finish tied for 11th, while freshman Morten Bergan finished tied for 20th with a 7-over 223. Freshman Joakim Mikkelsen finished tied for 33rd at 9-over 225.

"The course is set up for a south wind, but it was blowing north and that made the course play much harder than we've seen. After a rough first round, we came back with a great second round," Priest said.

Individuals Austin Berkovsky and Peter Fallon are in 74th and 80th place, respectively.

The Baylor men's golf team returns to the links when the Bears participate at the National Invitational in Tucson, Ariz., Sunday, March 22 and Monday, March 23.