Cougars Struggle at Alister MacKenzie Invitational

Fairfax, Calif. - A California autumn usually consists of clear skies, temperatures in the high-70's and maybe a trip to Disneyland. But as the Washington State men's golf team readied themselves for the final round of the Alister Mackenzie Invitational in Fairfax, Calif., they found menacing clouds, 20 mile-per-hour winds and more rain in a day than the city had seen all month.

A total of 3.55 inches of precipitation fell on Tuesday Oct. 13, and led to standing water on the greens and the cancellation of the final round at the par-71, 6,708-yard Meadow Club. The field was able to squeeze in 36 holes on Monday Oct. 12, which allowed the event to count as an official tournament.

The Cougars fell behind early against the toughest tournament field they had faced all season which was highlighted by No. 2 Oregon State, No. 22 San Diego State and No. 24 Oregon. At the end of the first day WSU was in 11th place with a team score of 571 (+3), and that is how it stayed as mother nature stifled any chance of possible Cougar comeback.

The Cougars were in unfamiliar territory being towards the bottom of the pack. They had finished in the top five in each of their previous three tournaments, including a victory at the Palouse Collegiate and a second-place finish behind No. 2 Oregon State at the Giustina Memorial.

"We did not play as well as we hoped we would in a very strong field," Walt Williams, WSU Men's Head Golf Coach said after the Monday scores were posted. "Ellis and Frame had solid rounds but we needed a breakout score in the afternoon but were not able to get the putts to fall."

Hank Frame was the top Cougar finisher for the first time of his collegiate career, finishing with seven birdies on the day. The freshman was also the most consistent WSU player, posting an even-par 71 in the first round, followed by a career-low score of 70 during the afternoon round. The two-round total of 141 put Frame just outside the top 25, in a tie for 26th. Frame was looking forward to improve his position during the final day but never got the chance.

"It was disappointing because I was really hoping to get a top 25 finish, so when I finished 26th and it was cut short it was kind of like rubbing salt in the wound, but I played well so I can’t be down on myself about it," he said.

Kevin Tucker started the tournament about as hot as he has started his senior season. The Kennewick, Wash., native already notched three top-25 finishes this year, including a win at the season opener in Pullman. He opened the Alister MacKenzie with a 67 (-4), and was fighting for the lead at one time, but the approaching dark clouds served as foreshadowing for Tucker's second round. He posted a four-over par 75 and dropped 29 places to finish the day in a tie for 31st.

Junior Nick Ellis ended his day by carding a season-low score of 70 (-1). He combined that with a one-over, 72 in the first round to join his teammate at even-par for the tournament (142).

Austin Hurt and Trent Sanders finished in the final two spots for the Cougars. Hurt finished in a tie for 47th with a two-round total of 146 (+4) while Sanders posted a 152 for the event.

The Cougars will look to put this finish behind them next week when they take on the field of the Georgetown Intercollegiate in Bealsville, Md. The tournament will mark the team's only trip to the East Coast this season.