LAREDO, Texas —Christian Fanfelle finished in a tie for 16th place to lead the UTSA men's golf team to a ninth-place tie at the Border Olympics, which concluded on Tuesday at Laredo Country Club (par 72/7,204 yards).
Fanfelle carded a 4-over-par 220 to help guide the Roadrunners to a 901 (296-296-309) and settle into a tie with Rice for ninth. UTSA was 10 shots ahead of Bowling Green and 12 in front of Michigan, while finishing only one stroke out of a deadlock for seventh place between Illinois State and New Mexico State.
Fanfelle opened the 54-hole event with rounds of 72 and 74 on Monday and then posted his second straight 2-over scorecard today. The all-conference performer from San Antonio headlined his final round with birdies on the 457-yard, par-4 third and 550-yard, par-5 17th holes, and he led the Roadrunners with 37 pars for the week.
Michael Rome tied for 36th with a 227 as the second-highest placing Roadrunner. The senior from Austin carded a 73 in Monday morning's first round before bouncing back from a 78 in round two with a 76 on Tuesday that was highlighted by a birdie on the 349-yard, par-4 16th.
Hunter Bott grabbed a share of 43rd with a 228 that included a 2-under 70 — the low round of the tournament for UTSA — on Monday afternoon.
Jack Wehman and David Harrison rounded out the UTSA lineup in ties for 55th (76-74-81—231) and 66th (77-78-78—233), respectively.
A pair of freshmen participated as individuals. Carson Gallaher tied for 33rd with a 226 (73-77-76) and Patrick Kahanek carded a 228 (77-74-77) to tie for 43rd.
Houston captured the team title with a 12-under 852 behind co-medalists Alexander Frances and Andrew Gibson, who finished at 7-under 209. The host Cougars were followed by Louisiana Tech (867) and Lamar (870) in the top three.
The Roadrunners will be back in action next Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 21-22, with individuals slated to play in the Rattler Invitational hosted by St. Mary's at The Dominion Country Club.
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Joe Howell