TUSCALOOSA ?? The No. 1 ranked University of Alabama golf team wrapped up its fall schedule this week with a disappointing seventh place finish at the Aloha Purdue Collegiate. Alabama won the tournament championships in three of its five fall events and finished fourth (of 15 teams) at another, a pace and production that propelled Alabama to the top spot in every major collegiate golf rankings poll.
The team finished the fall portion of its schedule at Kiahuna Golf Club in Kauai, Hawai’i. Alabama was one of nine teams competing in the tournament hosted by Purdue. Texas won the tournament’s team championship, shooting seven over par (279-291-277/847). Michigan finished second (853), followed by Purdue (856), Virginia Tech (857), Clemson (859), Pepperdine (863), Alabama (290-298-283/871), Notre Dame (874) and Rice (898).
In a playoff Clemson’s Kyle Stanley defeated Virginia Tech’s Drew Weaver to win the tournament’s individual championship.
Joseph Sykora had Alabama’s best finish in the tournament. He finished T-14th at five over par on the par 70 course, posting round scores of 72-73-70/215. Two strokes back and in 22nd place was Alabama’s Gator Todd who shot 71-75-71/217. Alabama’s other golfers competing included Mark Harrell, who finished T-23rd (&3-75-71/219), Michael Thompson who finished T-28th (74-75-71/220), and Matthew Swan who finished 37th (75-76-74/225).
Alabama’s golfers now take a winter break from competition. Alabama picks up its 2006-07 schedule February 18-20, 2007 at Sawgrass Country Club where it will compete in the Mercedes Benz Collegiate. Six spring tournaments are scheduled in addition to a likely bid into the NCAA Championships.
