Carpenter wins; Wildcats 2nd

Monday, September 12

Abilene

Abilene Christian

Charles Coody West Texas Intercollegiate

Photo by: Gary Rhodes

9/13/2011 6:34:00 PM | Men's Golf

Results

ABILENE -- Alex Carpenter fired a final-round 69 on Tuesday to win the individual championship at the Charles Coody West Texas Intercollegiate golf tournament, but his team couldn't hold the lead as the No. 1-ranked team in the nation finished second on its home course in the first tournament of the fall season.

The Wildcats -- the defending NCAA Division II South Central Region champion -- were ranked No. 1 in the nation in last week's national poll, but they were beaten by former Lone Star Conference rival Central Oklahoma, which was ranked No. 3 in the nation. While the Wildcats were shooting a 4-over-par 288 on Tuesday (after a 279 on Monday), the Bronchos shot a 6-under-par 282 to finish first at 563 over the two-day event.

ACU was second at 567 (279-288) with Our Lady of the Lake in third at 571 (288-283), West Texas A&M in fourth at 575 (287-288) and Midwestern State in fifth at 577 (285-292).

Tuesday's final round played out much like last year's final round when the Bronchos came from behind to beat ACU, which carried a first-day lead into the final 18 holes. Last year, ACU's lead over UCO was just one stroke going into the final round, and the Bronchos won by three strokes. Tuesday the Wildcats entered with a two-stroke lead and lost by four strokes.

Carpenter was spectacular again for the Wildcats as the reigning NCAA Division II Player of the Year won his home tournament for the first time in his three years as a Wildcat. After winning seven times in 13 starts as a sophomore in 2010-11, Carpenter has now won 12 individual tournament titles in 25 career collegiate starts.

The junior from Little Rock, Ark., was even through the front nine with a pair of birdies offset by a pair of bogeys. But he was 2-under-par on the tough back nine, dropping in birdies on the par-4, 431-yard 13th hole and the par-5, 571-yard 17th hole.

The Wildcats' other finishers were sophomore Trey Sullivan, tied for fourth at 138 (69-69); freshman Corbin Renner, tied for 23rd at 146 (70-76); Drew Norries, tied for 38th at 149 (75-74); and Ian Evans, tied for 52nd at 153 (76-77).

ACU will return to action next Monday and Tuesday at the Dornick Hills Classic in Ardmore, Okla.