The comeback kids of The University of Memphis men's golf team couldn't do what they have done all season on Tuesday.
After three come from behind tournament wins last fall, the Tigers couldn't make up a six-stroke deficit to win the rain-shortened Rice Intercollegiate in Houston, Texas.
Memphis finished in second place, one stroke behind the University of North Texas. Each school tallied the same final round score of 285, but the Mean Green started the final round one stroke ahead.
Four Tigers shot under-par in the final round, with freshman Keven Fortin-Simard finishing the tournament at even par to lead the Tigers. The score was good enough to tie Fortin-Simard for fourth place with five others, despite having trouble with the shortest club in his bag.
"Keven played solid," said head-coach Grant Robbins. "He struggled on the greens, especially in the first round."
Fortin-Simard wasn't the only one struggling. The total first round score of 300 for the Tigers was highest scoring round this year.
However the wet conditions in Houston certainly affected play.
"The last nine holes were probably the worst nine holes I've ever played weather wise," said freshman Andy Shiels.
Another enemy of the Tigers was North Texas and individual medalist Anthony Broussard, who finished both rounds under-par with a final score of three-under.
"We can take the fact that we didn't play our best and only finished one shot out (of the lead) and help our confidence," said Robbins.
According to the second-year coach, one aspect that hurt their score was their play on the par 5s at Wildcat Golf Course.
"I think we ranked 13 out of the 15 teams in par 5 play," he said.On the plus side, Memphis will have plenty of time to correct the mistakes as the next scheduled tournament is about a month away.The Rice Intercollegiate was one of the first three tournaments to tee off this calendar year.
"It was just a matter of getting our guys some competitive experience," said Robbins.
That early experience, Robbins said, may help the team's first round troubles in future tournaments.
They will have a chance to wash those worries away in paradise as the Tigers will play March 4 and 5 at the St. Croix Collegiate Classic hosted by Xavier University in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
"It's going to be pretty awesome," said junior Clayton Ellis. "After the first round they have snorkeling for everybody."
