Golf

UH’s short game fails on last day of tournament

After battling stiff competition and cold weather, UH posted a seventh-place finish Tuesday at the 10th Annual Rice Intercollegiate at Westwood Golf Club.

First-year head coach Jonathan Dismuke said he was most displeased with the team’s short game.

“The big thing we did not do a very good job of was chip or pitch the ball,” Dismuke said. “That’s just something were going to have to get better at over the course of the year.”

The Cougars were in fourth place after Monday’s competition, but shot 296 Tuesday to drop to seventh at 927.

Rice, which hosted the tournament, won with an impressive team score of 886.

Auburn finished second with a score of 905. Pacific (909), Kansas (921) and Nebraska (923) rounded out the top five.

“I think we didn’t take advantage of many opportunities today,” Dismuke said. “We shot some pretty decent rounds, and the conditions were a lot better today. We had a few good opportunities, but we kind of let things get away from us.”

For the third time this season, junior Matt Eschenburg led the Cougars with a three-round final score of 229.

Freshman Jordan Rumora also had a successful two-day run, especially in the final round when he shot a 1-over-par 73. That score marked the Cougars’ lowest round of the tournament.

“Matt’s been real solid for us all year … (Tuesday’s round) wasn’t his best ball this week,” Dismuke said. “He didn’t have his best ball striking, chipping or putting, but he just kind of grinded it out for another top-20 finish.”

Rumora, a Cy-Fair product, lowered his score after every round to finish with a 234 total.

“I can tell every time (Rumora) goes out, he gets better and better,” Dismuke said. “He finished great today. He’s a tough kid.”

Other Cougars in action include junior Clark Mitzner (235, tied for 43rd), redshirt freshman Joseph Reynolds (239, t-52nd) and senior Jackie Lindsey (240, t-54th).

Rice’s Christopher Brown shot a 69 in the final round to finish at even-par 216 and capture individual medalist honors.

UH will next take the course Monday when it travels to Lost Pines to take part in the J.L. Lewis Intercollegiate, hosted by Texas State at Wolfdancer Golf Club.

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