Wildcats finish 12th in opener

Monday, March 1

San Bernardino, Calif.

Abilene Christian

Coyote Classic

3/2/2010 5:38:34 PM | Men's Golf

Coyote Classic

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- The ACU men's golf team got the 2010 spring season started Monday and Tuesday at the Coyote Classic, finishing the three-round tournament in 12th place against a strong field at the Arrowhead Country Club.

The Wildcats were in last place (17th) after the first round Monday after shooting a first-round 311. The second round was delayed and most teams didn't finish their second rounds until early Tuesday morning.

The Wildcats bounced back in the second round with a strong 285 to find themselves in 13th place. The Wildcats -- ranked No. 24 in the nation in the latest Golf Coaches' Associaiton of America Golf World / Nike Division II poll -- shot a final-round 292 to finish at 888 and in 12th place.

Cal State-Monterey Bay won the tournament championship with a three-round total of 848 (282-285-281), while No. 1-ranked Barry (Fla.) finished second at 851 (290-279-282). No. 3 Chico State (Calif.) finished third at 851 (278-291-282), while Sonoma State (854) and Cal State-San Bernardino finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Because of the poor weather in Abilene and the surrounding area for most of February, the Wildcats were unable to get many practice rounds in before playing in their first tournament of the spring.

Senior Cyril Bouniol -- a third team GCAA all-America last year -- was ACU's highest finisher, finishing tied for 44th at 222 (78-72-72), while twin brothers, Alex and Adam Carpenter, and Kyle Dickerson each finished tied for 48th at 223. Tyler Sheppard finished tied for 74th at 233.

The Wildcats are back in action next Monday and Tuesday (March 8-9) at the Red River Intercollegiate at Winstar Golf Course in Thackerville, Okla.