Oct. 19, 2010
Final Results
RUSTON - After three straight impressive showings to start the fall season, Louisiana Tech hit its first speed bump as the Bulldog golf team struggled in Tuesday's final round of the 2010 David Toms Intercollegiate and finished 12th in the 14-team event.
Tech shot its worst round of the fall, totaling 15-over-par 303 as the Bulldogs finished the three-round event at 24-over-par (888), besting only Georgia Southern and Rice.
"It wasn't really what I had planned for us this week," said Tech head coach Jeff Parks. "I think coming off the win (at Squire Creek) might have gotten us to relax. "We had some bad holes, some bad mistakes and some big numbers. Obviously, we can't have those.
"We just have to get back to business again. I feel like we might have gotten over confident. The best part about next week (at Memphis) is we start at zero again with everyone in the field."
Senior Clinton Shepard headed into the final round tied for third overall after shooting six-under-par during Monday's opening two rounds. However, four bogeys and a triple bogey on the par 4 No. 7 were too much to overcome as he shot four-over-par 76 and dropped to 16th.
Jonathan Bale and Sam Forgan both shot three-over-par 75 during the final round while Cody Santone and Jack Lempke recorded 77s.
Senior Cody Blankenship, who was competing as an individual in the event, was Tech's top performer on Tuesday as he shot his third straight round of one-over-par 73. Blankenship finished in a tie for 37th in the event.
"Cody played consistent as an individual," Parks said. "As a team we didn't putt well; our short game wasn't crisp, and we didn't strike the ball like we normally do. The guys kept their heads up despite a tough day. We will learn from it. We aren't starting over; we will just continue to climb."
Ninth-ranked LSU won the team title, edging eighth-ranked Arkansas by two strokes followed by South Alabama, Middle Tennessee, North Florida, Southeastern Louisiana, Ole Miss, UL-Lafayette, Kansas State, Mississippi State, UAB, LA Tech, Georgia Southern and Rice.
LSU's Austin Gutgsell won the individual title by four strokes with a three-round total of 10-under-par 206.
