April 23, 2005
Contact: Kyle Stephens (210) 458-4907
UTSA travels to Kingwood for 42nd SLC Championships Complete Release
SAN ANTONIO - The UTSA men’s golf team travels to Kingwood, Texas, to compete in the 42nd Southland Conference Championship held Monday-Wednesday, April 25-27, at Deerwood Club (7,058 yards, par 72). The defending champion is Louisiana-Monroe, while Lamar has won the most championships (19).
Breaking Down UTSA:
The Roadrunners have a team per round scoring average of 298.79, which ranks fifth in the conference. Individually, junior John Elizondo paces UTSA with a 74.57 average, seventh in the SLC, and three top-20 finishes this spring, including his second-ever collegiate win at the St. Croix Collegiate Classic on March 4-6. Freshmen Nick Olivarri (75.36) and Shane Costelloe (75.50) and sophomores Matt Johnston (75.93) and Kitt Thabungkan (76.33) complete the Roadrunner lineup for this week’s tournament.
Last time Out:
Kitt Thabungkan tied for 18th place to lead UTSA to a seventh-place finish at the Diet Pepsi/Shocker Classic hosted by Wichita State on April 4-5 in Wichita, Kan. Thabungkan turned in a 54-hole total of 231 to pace the Roadrunners, while Nick Olivarri carded a 232 to tie for 24th.
UTSA’s Conference History:
UTSA has never won a conference championship in men’s golf but has finished second at the SLC Championships three times, most recently in 2003.
2004 SLC Championships Rewind:
UTSA fired a 54-hole total of 18-over-par 287-291-304=882 to finish in sixth place at the 41st Southland Conference Men’s Golf Championships held at High Meadow Ranch Golf Club (7,370 yards - par 72). Entering the final day tied with Louisiana-Monroe for the overall lead, the Roadrunners shot 304 to fall to sixth. Louisiana-Monroe overturned three-time defending champion Lamar in a sudden-death playoff to claim its first-ever conference crown. Both teams shot five-over 869, but the Indians won on the first playoff hole thanks to a 30-foot birdie putt by Bryan Vahlberg. Individually, Mike Mezei led all Roadrunners with a 19th-place finish, carding a three-round total of six-over 69-77-76=222. John Elizondo was right behind in a tie for 20th at seven-over 74-73-76=223. Kitt Thabungkan was one shot back of Elizondo at eight-over 78-69-77=224, while Matt Johnston tied for 30th at nine-over 66-84-75=225. Luke Healy tied for 43rd (79-72-80=231).
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