April 27, 2004
HUTCHINSON, Kan. - The Missouri men's golf team struggled to an 11th-place finish Tuesday afternoon at the Big 12 Conference Men's Golf Championships at Prairie Dunes Golf Club.
The Tigers, who came into the tournament seeded 10th by the league's head coaches, came into the final round in just that position and just eight strokes out of fifth place. Yet on a day in which the field's average score rose nearly a full stroke from Monday morning's first round, Mizzou's quintet was hampered by several holes of double-bogey or worse to quell the comeback effort.
Individually, sophomore Ben Scott (Lancashire, United Kingdom / St. Theodore's HS) led the way on Tuesday with a 5-over 75 to finish in 36th place. Scott carded a birdie and strung together 11 pars, and had no score worse that bogey on his final-round card.
Seniors Michael Radek (Chicago, Ill. / St. Ignatius HS) and David Jenkins (Springfield, Mo. / Glendale HS / SMS), likely playing in their final collegiate competition, had the most roller-coaster performances of any on the day. Radek scored better or worse than par on each of his last eight holes - and nine of his last 10 - on his way to an 85 and 57th place. Jenkins was above or below par on his last seven holes, including an eagle on the 512-yard par-5 seventh for his second eagle of the tournament. Oklahoma State's Alex Noren was the only other golfer to record two eagles, and Jenkins was the only golfer in the field to do so on separate holes. His final-round 80 left him in 52nd place.
Sophomore Chris Mabry (Leawood, Kan. / Bishop Miege HS), who was in 17th place coming into the final round after shooting a pair of 74's, shot an 81 to finish in 42nd place. He was at 4-over through 13 holes before going 7-over on his last five holes. Freshman John Kelly (St. Louis, Mo. / Christian Brothers College HS) rounded out the Tiger showing with an 84 to finish in 55th place.
Texas held off early clubhouse leader Oklahoma down the stretch to record a five-stroke win and its third straight team title, while UT's Jason Hartwick carded his second straight sub-par round to earn medalist honors by a convincing nine strokes.
2004 Big 12 Conference Men's Golf Championships
Prairie Dunes Golf Club - Hutchinson, Kan. // Par 70 // 6,598 Yards
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS:
1. Texas, 287-290-288-865 (+25); 2. Oklahoma, 295-292-283-870 (+30); 3. Oklahoma State, 292-285-296-873 (+33); 4. Kansas State, 290-289-302-881 (+41); t-5. Colorado, 295-301-297-893 (+53); t-5. Kansas, 291-301-301-893 (+53); t-5. Texas Tech, 294-303-296-893 (+53); 8. Iowa State, 296-298-300-894 (+54); 9. Baylor, 299-297-299-895 (+55); 10. Texas A&M, 304-305-295-904 (+64); 11. MIZZOU, 299-301-320-920 (+80); 12. Nebraska, 314-299-313-926 (+86).
MU INDIVIDUAL PLACINGS:
t-36. Ben Scott, 76-76-75-227 (+17); t-42. Chris Mabry, 74-74-81-229 (+19); t-52. David Jenkins, 75-79-80-234 (+24); 55. John Kelly, 74-78-84-236 (+26); 57. Michael Radek, 80-73-85-238 (+28).