What Happened to the Longhorn Golf Team?

[Charlie_Foxtrot]

This is a request for information and/or clarification, not a rant.

 

When I attended Texas, we had a very strong team (Justin Leonard era). I quit golf for many years, and now that I'm am playing again, I've noticed that the team isn't one of the top ranked teams anymore.

 

What's up? Random lull, or do I just remember the unusual high? Normal ebb and flow of college sports power struggles, or something to be concerned about?

 

Just curious.

[samm980]

UT Has a good team but nothing special, I think they have been hurt of late by the strides the programs at Baylor, A&M, and Lamar. All 3 schools have become national powers, even Tech is moving up the ladder now that they have a world-class facility.

 

I can promise that if you ever get up to UT Golf Club you will know they can't blame their facilities.

[golfernut78]

i will vouch for the facilities and they have a nice new clubhouse on the way.

 

agree, baylor has quite the program right now, but also, oklahoma state is an absolute power house in golf in the big 12.

 

its just like every other sport, a school has one sport that they are known for (football: oklahoma, texas, texas a&m; basketball: unc, duke, georgetown) and then rest of the sports have cycles of greatness.

[Goose]

Last i checked Texas was ranked 57th in the Golfweek rankings. They are playing well this week at the UCF Isleworth invitational. I would look for texas to make a push back to the top of the rankings, they have some good young talent and from what i have heard around the AJGA circuit this summer they may have a few more really solid recruits.

 

 

CHECK HERE>>>>> TEXAS LONGHORNS GOLF

 

 

 

GoOsE

[taylormadefan]

They've got a young star on the team. Keep your eye on Lance Lopez.

 

He's got some SERIOUS talent, and he's a heck of a nice kid too. He's a freshman, and is the most solid golfer on the team. I think they've got a star to build around from here on.

[Charlie_Foxtrot]

Last i checked Texas was ranked 57th in the Golfweek rankings. They are playing well this week at the UCF Isleworth invitational. I would look for texas to make a push back to the top of the rankings, they have some good young talent and from what i have heard around the AJGA circuit this summer they may have a few more really solid recruits.

 

 

CHECK HERE>>>>> TEXAS LONGHORNS GOLF

 

 

 

GoOsE

 

Thanks GoOsE!

 

P.S. A clarification: I just re-read my initial post and it kinda makes it sound like I may have played FOR Texas. I did not. I am not, nor was I ever, good enough to play competitive golf. (Although, now I aspire to play for for the Nationwide-Champions tour which I hope will exist when I turn 50 in about 15 years. That should give me enough time to practice. :drinks: ) I just played golf while attending U.T. as a regular student. I just stopped following the game when I quit playing myself, and now I'm following the game again.

[Charlie_Foxtrot]

They've got a young star on the team. Keep your eye on Lance Lopez.

 

He's got some SERIOUS talent, and he's a heck of a nice kid too. He's a freshman, and is the most solid golfer on the team. I think they've got a star to build around from here on.

 

TMf-

 

Thanks, I missed that story. I love the texassports site and I try to check it every day. It's gotta be one of the best college sports sites in the country for keeping up with your alma mater.

 

As samm mentioned, the facilites look amazing:

http://www.texassports.com/index.php?s=&am...hange_well_id=2

(click the photo gallery link.)

 

Hook 'Em Horns.

[martineli69]

I guess the longhorns needed to be discused on this site to get their act together!!! I think they heard you Charlie!!! :drinks:

 

Texas ropes first win since 2004

 

Looks like the course was playing pretty hard because E won the individual title!!

[Onebulldogs]

I haven't been to Austin in 10 years, but I saw the school built an incredible practice facility. In addtion to a school course, it has a players room, indoor hitting bays, AND the most incredible thing I have ever seen.

 

They have different putting greens with different grass. Bermuda, Bent, and one other.

 

I miss Austin!!! I was in grad school and didn't get to play golf unless my parents were visiting and Dad paid.

 

Actually, I have been following college golf since I was an undergrad at SMU. For the most part, it is dominated by teams with GREAT players. 4 mediocre players don't get it done.

[Husky18]

OSU was missing a couple of pretty good players

[Hoover98]

They've got a young star on the team. Keep your eye on Lance Lopez.

 

He's got some SERIOUS talent, and he's a heck of a nice kid too. He's a freshman, and is the most solid golfer on the team. I think they've got a star to build around from here on.

 

I see he's from Missouri City. Any relation to "The Family" here at GWGC?

[samm980]

They've got a young star on the team. Keep your eye on Lance Lopez.

 

He's got some SERIOUS talent, and he's a heck of a nice kid too. He's a freshman, and is the most solid golfer on the team. I think they've got a star to build around from here on.

 

I see he's from Missouri City. Any relation to "The Family" here at GWGC?

 

 

Rick, yes.

 

Why call them "The Family?" :drinks:

[taylormadefan]

I see he's from Missouri City. Any relation to "The Family" here at GWGC?

 

Definately, he's Ruben's newphew, Nick's Cousin, Robert's (the superintendent who we owe the great conditioning of GWGC to) son.

[Hoover98]

I see he's from Missouri City. Any relation to "The Family" here at GWGC?

 

Definately, he's Ruben's newphew, Nick's Cousin, Robert's (the superintendent who we owe the great conditioning of GWGC to) son.

 

I guess the secret to grooming a young golfer is to make them hit crappy balls off of even crappier mats. :drinks:

[samm980]

Rick there are several hundred snide remarks I could make from there!

[liongolf_ike]

All i have to say is UT is on the rise. I know Lance Lopez and Jonathon Vegas really well and these two can play. The whole team is stacked. They just won at Isleworth and that was an impressive field too. All of Texas golf is on the rise, Baylors, Lamar, SMU, Texas Tech, Texas A&M are all on the rise. in fact A&M is in the top ten right now. Overall its a battle, but dont worry about the horns, or any other Texas golf team, the golf is just heating up.

[Charlie_Foxtrot]

Texas Men's Golf scores second straight victory at Aloha Purdue Collegiate Invitational

 

KAUAI, Hawaii -- Trailing by three strokes heading into the final round of the Aloha Purdue Collegiate Invitational, No. 23 Texas scored the single-best round of the tournament with a collective three-under 277 to finish at seven-over in the 54-hole event and defeat second-place Michigan by six strokes. Notably, Texas soundly defeated No. 1 Alabama and No. 8 Clemson, among six other teams, en route to its second consecutive tournament victory after defeating a loaded field last month at the Isleworth Collegiate Invitational in Orlando.

 

"It was fun to come over here and go back-to-back, as it turned out," said UT men's golf coach John Fields. "This tournament included some of the best teams in the country, including No. 1 Alabama, so I'm really proud of the guys. Getting three rounds in the 60s today was just what the doctor ordered."

 

The Longhorns landed two student-athletes in the top five in senior Farren Keenan (Middlesex, England) and freshman Lance Lopez (Missouri City, Texas). After shooting his first two rounds in the 60s, Keenan ended the tournament with a two-over 72 but still finished at one under for the tournament in a tie for fifth place. Lopez shot a one-under 69 in the final round to also finish at one under in a tie for fifth.

 

"Farren and Lance played really good golf this week," Fields said. "Farren was a major part of this victory after not participating in the Isleworth. Lance has been a huge part of our success this fall and brings a tremendous attitude every time out."

 

After scoring a pair of rounds in the 70s on Wednesday, junior Kevin Schultz (Richardson, Texas) carded a final-round 68 to finish at four over for the tournament in a tie for 11th place. Senior Jhonattan Vegas (Maturin, Venezuela), the third Longhorn to shoot in the 60s during the final round, added a two-under 68 to end the tournament in 17th place.

 

Senior Matt Bortis (Springfield, Mo.) rebounded from a second-round 79 to card a three-over 73 in the final round, finishing in a tie for 34th place at 13-over par.

 

"It's nice to go into the holidays feeling good about ourselves and winning again," Fields concluded. We're going to have a great holiday season and come back and try to get better."

 

Texas returns to action on Feb. 25, 2007 at the Puerto Rico Collegiate Classic.

 

Aloha Purdue Collegiate Invitational

Kiahuna Golf Club - Par 70, 6,885 yards

Final Team Standings

1. TEXAS 279-291-277-847 (+7)

2. Michigan 281-294-278-853 (+13)

3. Purdue 279-288-289-856 (+16)

4. Virginia

5. Clemson

6. Pepperdine

7. Alabama

8. Notre Dame

9. Rice

Texas Individuals

T5. Farren Keenan 69-68-72-209 (-1)

T5. Lance Lopez 68-72-69-209 (-1)

T11. Kevin Schultz 71-75-68-214 (+4)

17. Jhonattan Vegas 72-76-68-214 (+4)

T34. Matt Bortis 71-79-73-223 (+13)

[mrq]

HOOK' EM... and hope McCoy is okay too