Koch Leads SWOSU to Third-Place Tie in Golf Tournament

September 13, 2005

ABILENE, Texas - Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Greg Koch fired a one-over par 143 to finish in a second-place tie and lead the Bulldogs to a third-place overall finish at the Charles Coody West Texas Intercollegiate Golf Tournament. The two-day, 36-hole tournament was played at Abilene ’s Diamondback Golf Club, a par 71, 6,977-yard course.

Cameron won the tournament thanks to a final-round score of 287, finishing the two-day tournament at 582, six shots ahead of runner-up Abilene Christian and SWOSU. Cameron won the tournament last year when it was played at Fairway Oaks Country Club.

SWOSU led after Monday’s first round with a team total of 291. The Bulldogs took advantage of light wind in the early morning and spectacular play by Koch as he was the only golfer in the field of 71 to break par. He shot a one-under 71 after.

Tuesday’s second round proved more difficult for the Bulldogs as windy conditions prevailed when the team teed off at noon . SWOSU ended with a 303 and slipped into third place.

"The wind was a factor but more importantly we simply didn’t make as many putts,” head coach Michael Bond said of Tuesday’s round.

Cameron’s Travis Lovins won the medalist honors with an even-par score of 142 after shooting one-under 70 on Tuesday. He finished one stroke ahead of Koch and Cameron teammate Brian Adams. Lovins had a three-stroke lead over Adams with three holes to play, but Lovins parred the par-5, 571-yard 17th hole before finishing with a double-bogey on the par-4, 450-yard 18th hole. Adams, meanwhile, parred the 17th and had a chance to tie for the individual medalist title, but he parred the 18th and had to settle for second place.

SWOSU’s next tournament will be Monday, Sept. 19 at the Cameron Invitational in Duncan.