Sept. 22, 2009

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Nicholls men's golf team started off its fall season by finishing 19th after shooting a 959 (319-311-329) during the 54 hole UTA Waterchase Invitational held at the 7,290 par 72 Waterchase Golf Club.

Leading the way for the Colonels was junior Parham Booker who finished tied for 60th after firing a 230 (77-70-83). Other Colonel golfers included senior Ebenhaezer Van der Walt (T90-242), junior Lohan Kotze (T94-244), sophomore Gavin Miles (98th-247) and sophomore Werlien Prosperie (100th-256).

Rice University won the event after firing an 858 (289-283-286), while the rest of the field of 19 consisted of tournament host UT-Arlington (860), Wichita State (872), Sam Houston State (880), Texas State (883), UC Irvine (884), North Texas (886), New Orleans (887), Louisiana Tech (888), Central Arkansas (896), Oklahoma Christian (897), Stephen F. Austin (901), UT-Arlington/Orange (906), Western Kentucky (907), UC Riverside (917), Houston Baptist (917), Texas-San Antonio (920), McNeese State (923) and Nicholls (959).

Round one leader Dustin Garza of Wichita State won the medalist honors by shooting an eight-under par 208 (68-70-70), while Michael Buttacavoli of UT-Arlington finished tied for second with a 210.

The Nicholls golf team will take a three-week break before it hits the road once again to travel to Huntsville, Texas to participate in the Sam Houston State Elkins Lake Invitational held at Elkins Lake Golf Course on Oct. 19-20.