Higham ties for first at Thunderbird Invitational
The men’s golf team is back from its break and has started play for the spring season.
The team competed at the Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational at Southern Utah University on Monday and Tuesday, and finished the two day event tied for sixth with Seattle University. Tanner Higham finished tied for first with a 2-under 142, marking the best event total by an Aggie since 1996. It is also Higham’s best career finish at an event.
Higham finished 3rd in a playoff with a bogey on the 8th hole. The team finished with an 18-over 594 for the tournament, ending the final round with an 8-over 296.
Coach Dean Johansen said he was really happy to see the team’s performance overall.
“We’ve been working hard all break, and the kids let it show out there,” he said.
Johansen said the break in between seasons has had no effect on the team.
“The kids were just really excited to get back out there and compete,” he said. “With the players we have now, we feel like we have the best team I’ve seen in years.”
Johansen said it was not only the team he was impressed with.
“With the performance we saw from Tanner Higham and Seokwon Jeon, it really is a testament to how hard the team is willing to fight out there on the course,” he said.
However, it was easy over the break.
“When we have a long break like we did, we need to find someway to get our practices in,” Johansen said. “We obviously couldn’t practice in Logan, so the players would try to go down to St. George and try to get their practices in there. But with the snow on the roads and the cost to rent the facilities down there, it was tough for some of the kids to get down there and sharpen their skills.”
The team consists of 10 members, five of which are freshmen.
“With freshman, you’re going to get something different,” he said. “They are just getting used to a new environment, adjusting to college and trying stuff on their own for the first time. Basically, they are having to learn everything over again.”
Johansen said that even with half of the team being freshman, he thinks it will have no effect on how the team plays.
“Even with everything they are going through, they are just very excited to get on that course and prove they belong.”
The team will now travel to Industry, Calif., to compete in the Cal State Fullerton-hosted Folino Invitational, which will run Feb. 17-19.
– connor.comeau@aggiemail.usu.edu
Twitter: @Connor_Comeau