The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Morris Williams Intercollegiate
No. 3 Men's Golf shares 36-hole lead at Morris Williams Intercollegiate
04.13.2013 | Men's Golf
April 13, 2013
AUSTIN, Texas -- Led by a second-round 5-under-par 66 by junior Toni Hakula and a pair of 67s by senior Cody Gribble and sophomore Kramer Hickok, the No. 3 Texas Men's Golf team rallied to a share of the 36-hole lead at the 47th annual Morris Williams Intercollegiate on Saturday afternoon at The University of Texas Golf Club. The Longhorns fired an 11-under 273 in the second round to overcome a first round score of 289 (+5) to rest atop the leaderboard at 6-under 562 alongside TCU (281-281) and New Mexico (284-278).
Texas is seeking its third-straight Morris Williams Intercollegiate title and its 15th overall in the history of the event.
Gribble (72-67) leads the Texas contingent in a tie for fourth place overall at 3-under 142. His first two rounds were highlighted late in the day over a seven-hole stretch where he went 6-under. Beginning on the 11th hole - his 10th of the afternoon round - Gribble made the first of a string of four birdies and an eagle on the 11th hole. He chipped in from 25 yards out at No. 13 for eagle, and went birdie-birdie-par-birdie over the next four holes for a 6-under 30 on the back.
Similarly, Hickok (73-67) made six birdies in his afternoon session to offset two bogeys. His morning round began with four birdies over his first six holes before suffering six bogeys. Hickok is tied for eighth place at 2-under 140.
Hakula (78-66=144, +2) trails Hickok by four strokes and is tied for 26th place. Senior Julio Vegas (71-74) and freshman Brandon Stone (73-73=146) round out the Texas squad in tied for 32nd and 37th places, respectively.
Vegas led the Longhorns in their 5-over 289 to open the Morris Williams with an even-par 71. With older brother Jhonattan (former Texas standout and current PGA TOUR player) in the gallery, Julio erased a bogey on the 10th hole with a birdie at No. 14 to go alongside 16 pars.
TCU's Julien Brun (65-69) leads the field at 8-under, while Oklahoma State's Jordan Niebrugge (70-67=137) and Texas Tech's Finley Ewing IV (69-69=138) are in second and third places.
Texas returns to action Sunday morning beginning at 9:03 a.m. Central on the first tee alongside its co-leaders. Tee times are set in nine-minute increments, with Gribble going off last at 9:39 a.m.
Post-round Quotes
Texas Head Coach John Fields
On difference between this year's team and last year's: It is hugely different in a lot of positive ways and obviously last year we had some significant strength in a couple different areas with Dylan Frittelli and Jordan Spieth, but Brandon Stone has had a great year and Cody Gribble is coming on as a senior. I think the big thing is that last year we had the burden of trying to achieve something, while this year we have the burden of having had achieved something and trying to live up to that. Truth be known, it is one shot at a time and that is what you've got to focus on. You cannot let all the other things enter into your brain, but they are human, they are kids, and it is tough.
On thoughts about going into third round being defending champions: I think we will just play. It doesn't help us or hurt us in anyway unless we let it. I feel like tomorrow we will be paired with the leaders, we will have a chance to play our home golf course, and hopefully our guys will persevere and get it.
Senior Cody Gribble
On thoughts about personal game: I hit the ball well. I was hitting a lot of fairways and I hit most of my greens today but really started getting my putter going at the end.
On thoughts about final round tomorrow: For the most part of today, especially the first 18, I couldn't really get the ball to drop into the hole but by about the 10th hole of my second 18 I really felt good; good strokes, had a few go in, chip in on the backside, and the putter feels so much better. I am relieved a little bit and just ready to play tomorrow.
Sophomore Kramer Hickok
On thoughts about Texas' play today: We struggled out of the gates, but got back quickly. I kept on seeing our name down the middle of the back and maybe even towards the bottom (of the leaderboard). Obviously on our home course that is unacceptable and we needed to step it up. I think everyone saw that and everyone started to fight back to get 11-under in the second round, which is a great round. That ended up putting us back in position and right where we need to be going into Sunday.
Junior Toni Hakula
On difference between morning and afternoon rounds: I kind of got a little lucky on the second round. Early on I chipped in twice in a three-hole span, so that kind of got me going a couple under and then I made a few good birdies. I hit the ball terrible in the morning round and I putted atrocious. I got it going a lot better, I mean I know the course and I have played good rounds out here so I figured all I got to do is get my mind back into the game. I was feeling so bad in the morning round because I putted so bad and I couldn't even make any short putts. It felt bad but I figured at the start of the new round, I just needed to start all over again.
Morris Williams Intercollegiate
The University of Texas Golf Club (par 71; 7,412 yards)
Team Leaderboard (through 36 holes)
T1. TEXAS - 289-273=562 (-6)
T1. TCU - 281-281=562 (-6)
T1. New Mexico - 284-278=562 (-6)
4. Texas Tech - 284-282=566 (-2)
5. Oklahoma State - 285-283=568 (E)
6. Liberty - 295-274=569 (+1)
7. North Texas - 292-285=577 (+9)
8. Houston - 291-289=580 (+12)
9. Kent State - 289-293=582 (+14)
10. Baylor - 300-285=585 (+17)
11. UT Arlington - 289-299=588 (+20)
12. UNLV - 304-287=591 (+23)
Player Leaderboard (through 36 holes)
1. Julien Brun, TCU - 65-69=134 (-8)
2. Jordan Niebrugge, Oklahoma State - 70-67=137 (-5)
3. Finley Ewing IV, Texas Tech - 69-69=138 (-4)
T4. Cody Gribble, TEXAS - 72-67=139 (-3)
T4. Curtis Donahoe, North Texas - 70-69=139 (-3)
T4. James Erkenbeck, New Mexico - 71-68=139 (-3)
T4. Niklas Lindstrom, Liberty - 74-65=139 (-3)
T8. Kramer Hickok, TEXAS - 73-67=140 (-2)
T8. Eli Cole, TCU - 71-69=140 (-2)
T10. Three players at 1-under 141
Texas Players
T26. Toni Hakula - 78-66=144 (+2)
T32. Julio Vegas - 71-74=145 (+3)
T37. Brandon Stone - 73-73=146 (+4)
Texas Individuals
T13. Will Griffin - 73-69=142 (E)
T44. Brax McCarthy - 73-75=148 (+6)
T62. Tayler Termeer - 80-74=154 (+12)
T62. Johnathan Schnitzer - 79-75=154 (+12)
