WACO, Texas — The UTSA men's golf team finished second to host Baylor at The Bear Brawl, a four-team match-play event that went to an extra playoff hole on Monday at Ridgewood Country Club.
The Roadrunners defeated Texas State by a 3-1 count in the opening match to earn a spot in the championship versus Baylor before dropping a hard-fought 3.5-1.5 decision to the host Bears.
"I'm very proud of the overall effort today," head coach John Knauer said. "We had some great wins in the first match to beat Texas State this morning and get into the championship match against a very good Baylor squad. David Harrison and Michael Rome had some awesome comebacks to extend their matches this afternoon. Taking Baylor to extra holes on their home course in a match that close showed great resolve from our guys."
In the morning match against the Bobcats, Hunter Bott, Christian Fanfelle and David Harrison all posted 2 & 1 wins to lock up a berth for the Roadrunners in the championship match. Michael Rome had a one-shot lead over Jack Burke through 16 holes when the match was called in favor of UTSA.
In the afternoon title bout, Baylor registered wins by Brandon Hoff, 5 & 4 over Jack Wehman and Mark Reppe, 4 & 3 over Bott, to take a 2-0 advantage. Fanfelle then scored a narrow 1-Up triumph in his matchup with Johnny Keefer to make it 2-1.
With the Bears needing just one win to clinch the match, Luke Dossey and Harrison were all square after 18 holes and Rome knotted things up with Tyler Isenhart on the 18th, leaving the match in limbo. However, Dossey provided the deciding point for Baylor on the first playoff hole when he sank a birdie putt.
The Roadrunners will return to action next Monday-Tuesday, April 4-5, at the Wyoming Cowboy Classic in Chandler, Ariz.
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