April 3, 2010
TEMPE, Ariz. - Kevin Tucker led the Cougar men's golf team at the Thunderbird Invitational this weekend. The senior finished in a tie for 11th at the par-71, 7,057-yard Karsten Golf Course, ahead of nine players ranked in Golfweek's top 50.
After posting two rounds of 68 (-3) to open the tournament, Tucker fired a 3-over-par 74 during the final round Saturday to finish with a three-round total of 210 (-3). The senior out of Kennewick, Wash., notched the 25th top-25 finish of his career and the ninth this season. The two achievements are good enough to place him third and fourth on the WSU all-time lists, respectively.
The performance by Tucker also marked his sixth-consecutive top-25 finish, making him the first Cougar to earn six-straight since Jon Reehoorn and Dustin White did it during the 2001-02 season. Reehoorn finished with seven-straight while White notched 10 in-a-row.
Junior Nick Ellis and senior Austin Hurt finished in second for the Cougars with three-round totals of 221 (+8). Ellis moved up 14 spots during the final day after posting a 2-under 69.
Freshman Hank Frame and senior Nick Grigsby rounded out the WSU lineup. Frame finished with a tournament-total of 224 while Grigsby carded a 234.
The Cougars finished in a tie with Brigham Young for 14th, in what was as competitive a field the team has faced this season.
The men's squad will begin to prepare for the U.S. Intercollegiate in Stanford, Calif., which will begin Sunday, April 11. The three-day event will be the last tournament before the Cougars head back to Tempe, Ariz., for the Pac-10 Championships April 26-28.
Thunderbird Invitational; Tempe, Ariz.
Karsten Golf Course
Par-71; 7,057 Yards
Final Results
WSU Results:
T11.
Kevin Tucker (68-68-74--210, -3); T64.
Nick Ellis (75-77-69--221, +8); T64.
Austin Hurt (72-72-77--221, +8); T74.
Hank Frame (76-71-77--224, +11); 87.
Nick Grigsby (83-74-77--234, +21).
Team Results: 1. Washington (839, -13); 2. UCLA (841,-11); 3. Southern California (842, -10); T4. Oregon (846, -6); T4. Arizona (846, -6); T4. Stanford (846, -6); 7. Oregon State (851, -1); T8. Arizona State (856, +4); T8. UNLV (856, +4); T8. San Diego State (856, +4); T11. Colorado State (857, +5); T11. UC-Irvine (857, +5); 13. California (867, +15); T14. Brigham Young (873, +21); T14. Washington State (873, +21); 16. Denver (890, +38).
Top Five Individuals: T1. Chris Williams, Washington (72-69-64--205, -8); T1. J.J. Spaun, San Diego State (69-66-70--205, -8); T3. Andrew Cooley, San Diego State (66-74-67--207, -6); T3. Nick Taylor, Washington (70-70-67--207, -6); T3. John Chin, UC-Irvine (72-64-71--207, -6); T3. Eugene Wong, Oregon (69-68-70--207. -6); T3. Matthew Giles, Southern California (70-68-69--207, -6).
--wsucougars.com-- 