The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Big 12 Championships
Men's Golf finishes strong, takes eighth place at Big 12 Championship
04.29.2009 | Men's Golf
April 29, 2009
Final Results 
HUTCHINSON, Kan. -- Texas enjoyed a productive round Wednesday at the 2009 Big 12 Championship, as it produced an even-par 280 - the sixth-lowest round in the 13-year history of the Big 12 Championship - in the final round of competition at the par 70, 6,701-yard Prairie Dunes Country Club.
After beginning the day in 11th place, three shots ahead of 12th-place Oklahoma, Texas carded the second-lowest round among the tournament's 48 rounds to finish in eighth place at 74-over par. Oklahoma State took the team title at 29-over par through 72 holes, and Colorado took second at 43-over par. OSU's Morgan Hoffmann took medalist honors at four-under par.
For Texas, the day belonged to freshman Alex Moon, who dropped a sizzling two-under 68 - the fourth-lowest round by a Longhorn in tournament history - in Wednesday's final round after beginning the day at 35-over par through the tournament's initial 54 holes.
Moon (Plano, Texas) opened with pars at the 18th and first holes before producing his only bogey of the day at the second hole, a par-three, 161-yard layout. Moon scattered birdies at the third, eighth and 12th holes while playing error-free golf the rest of the way to finish with his two-under 68. He finished the event tied for 55th place at 33-over par.
Freshman Dylan Frittelli scored Texas' top individual finish and landed his finest round of the tournament Wednesday with a one-over 71. Frittelli (Pretoria, South Africa) sank birdies at the third, seventh and 17th holes, as he tied for 17th place overall 17-over par.
Sophomore Donald Constable also saved his best round for last while producing an even-par 70 in round four. Constable (Wayzata, Minn.) began at the 17th hole and mixed in six birdies among six bogeys. He tied for 25th place at 20-over par.
Sophomore Bobby Hudson produced his low round of the tournament Wednesday with a three-over 73. Hudson (Memphis, Tenn.) birdied the seventh hole, a par-five at 512 yards, as he went on to tie for 29th place at 21-over par.
As the other four Longhorns enjoyed tournament-best rounds Wednesday, so, too, did junior Lance Lopez, who shot a one-over 71. Lopez (Missouri City, Texas) birdied the third hole and went on to tie for 29th place alongside Hudson at 21-over par.
Texas will host one of six NCAA Regional Championships from May 14-16 at the par 71, 7,412-yard University of Texas Golf Club. UT must finish among the top-five teams at its regional to earn a bid to compete at the NCAA Championships.
FINAL ROUND HIGHLIGHTS
- Out of the 492 total rounds played by the 12 member schools in the 13-year history of the Big 12 Championship, Wednesday's 280 from Texas marked the sixth-lowest round in tournament history
- Texas' 280 marked its second-lowest round in its 13 Big 12 Championship appearances; its lowest round at the Big 12 Championships was a 279 at the 1999 Big 12 Championship, also at Prairie Dunes
- Texas has won three Big 12 Championships, and its lowest round in any of those victories was a 282 at the 2002 event at Prairie Dunes
- The 68 from freshman Alex Moon ties for the fourth-lowest round by a Longhorn at the Big 12 Championship
- Texas' 280 is UT's third-lowest round of the season (273 Turtle Bay, 276 U.S. Intercollegiate)
LOWEST ROUNDS IN BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Rank, Score, School, Year, Site
1. 272, Oklahoma, 2000 Prairie Dunes
2. 274, Oklahoma, 2002 Prairie Dunes
3. 276, Kansas State, 2009 Prairie Dunes
4. 277, Oklahoma State, 2002 Prairie Dunes
5. 279, Texas, 1999 Prairie Dunes
6. 280, Texas, 2009 Prairie Dunes
2009 Big 12 Championships - Final Results
8. TEXAS 303-305-306-280-1194 (+74)
Texas Players
T17. Dylan Frittelli 72-76-78-71-297 (+17)
T25. Donald Constable 78-78-74-70-300 (+20)
T29. Bobby Hudson 77-77-74-73-301 (+21)
T29. Lance Lopez 76-74-80-71-301 (+21)
T55. Alex Moon 85-80-80-68-313 (+33)
POST-ROUND QUOTES
Texas head coach John Fields
On the team's final round: Whenever you can put up a red number at Prairie Dunes, that's just fantastic. As a team, we needed a round like this to ensure we had some confidence going into the NCAA regional. We had a rough time during the first three rounds, but today, I was really proud of the guys for finishing so well on such a tough course. Prairie Dunes is just so difficult. It can take a while to adjust to it. It obviously can be difficult to play. I think that today the guys just got comfortable on the course. They played their own games, and they played well.
On Texas' top finisher, freshman Dylan Frittelli: He got an education this week, like everybody did, seeing this course for the first time. It's a challenge for anyone to play Prairie Dunes for the first time. It challenges every aspect of your game. I expected with his experience in playing a lot of different courses around the world that he could come and play well. I know he was disappointed with some of his earlier rounds, but his 71 was excellent today, and I think he will only get better from here.
On Alex Moon's final round: The course took its toll on Alex in the first three rounds, and his effort today resembled that of the rest of the team. He was resilient, and he had a real desire to put up a good number. I'm really happy for him.
On the momentum built from the final round: We can build on this. To shoot 280 at Prairie Dunes ... that is a really, really good score. These guys know they can play good golf. We feel we can build on this, for sure.
