Golfers fall to SUU in Ryder Cup-style tournament
Preston Otte and Brett Black won their singles matches against Southern Utah to help the Utah State golfer in their Ryder Cup format tournament in Cedar City over the weekend.
Southern Utah won 8 1/2 to 3 1/2 after the three different rounds of play at the Cedar Ridge Golf Course.
Even with the loss, Coach Dean Johansen said the tournament format was beneficial to the team. It allowed the golfers to play with each other, he said, which helps in shot selection and forming strategy.
The first round was alternate shot. Jake Blair and Brendon Ehlers won 4 and 3, while the two other teams lost 2 and 1 and 3 and 2.
In the second round, the teams played four ball, which is teams of two playing better ball. Blair and Jared Humphries tied their match as the Thunderbirds took a 4 1/2 to 1 1/2 point lead at the end of Friday.
On Saturday, the Aggies participated in singles matches against the Thunderbirds. Black and Otte both won their matches, 1 up and 3 and 2 respectively.
Johansen said the format helped out in the singles matches because the golfers didn’t have to worry about their score relative to par. He said it opened them up to be more aggressive and loose.
“It especially helped Black,” Johansen said. “He just hates to lose.”
Three of Utah State’s matches were lost by one hole. Johansen said many of the Aggies throughout the tournament were behind at the turn but “climbed back in” the match over the back nine.
This was the first time ever playing this course for the Aggie golfers, Johansen said. There was a definite home course advantage, he said, the greens were weird and there were certain corners that could be cut.
“The result would have been different if we had more experience on this course,” Johansen said.
Overall Johansen said he was pleased with how the team played. The tournament also helped the team to bond and to spend time on the course with not only their teammates but also with the Southern Utah golfers, he said.
The Aggies have one more meet before their winter hiatus when they travel to Northridge, Calif., for the Countrywide Home Loans Intercollegiate on Nov. 8 and 9.
-krn@cc.usu.edu