Article Date
November 2, 2005
The Oklahoma Baptist men's golf team finished tied for 13th place with Newman University Tuesday at Coffee Creek golf course in Edmond.
OBU shot a total of 645 for the tournament that placed them at 85 over par. The Bison shot 331 in the first round of competition, but took 17 shots off for the second round shooting a 314.
Senior, Josh Bryan led the Bison finishing tied for 10th place with Texas Wesleyan's Justin Smith. Bryan shot a nine over par 149, eight shots back of champion Fernando Gonzalez of Oklahoma Christian.
Bryan shot a 74 in the first round of play and sat in second place before shooting a second round 75.
"He really couldn't get some of his puts to fall the second day," said head coach Rick Cody. "The other players just really surprised me with how well they played. This was a difficult course and there was nothing Josh could do. I mean in golf you can't play defense. You can't stop other people from shooting well."
Sophomore, Mark Richards shot a 19 over par to finish second for OBU and tied for 47th. Richards took nine strokes off his first day total of 84 to shoot a second day 75.
Marc Johnson came in third for OBU with a 24 over par tournament that earned him a tie for 67th.
Jason Carpenter finished fourth for the Bison in 91st with a two round total of 173 for a 33 over par final score.
Jeremy Foster rounded out the Bison participants, but did not finish due to missing his tee time on the last day of competition.
The Bison finished their fall season at Coffee Creek and will return to action in the spring.
"We really didn't have a great year this year," said Cody. "Our results didn't match our expectations or talent level."
Cody also said that the fall season was a learning experience for the five freshmen on the squad.
"We have to look to three upperclassmen to carry us and depend on the freshman to do well," said Cody. "I think they (the freshman) were a little more intimidated than what they expected. This is a little tougher to play on the college level."
Cody said that he expects more out of his team in the spring especially with getting Sophomore Robert Byaruhanga back after being ineligible for the fall season.
"I'm just glad that we weren't playing for a national title in the fall season," said Cody "I think we will do better in the spring and the freshman will be more prepared."