The Texas A&M men's golf team was looking for a closer down the stretch of Sunday's final round of the Aggie Invitational at Traditions Club, but Oklahoma State's big hitters proved why the Cowboys have been -- and still are -- one of the elite programs in the nation.
Over the last five holes, the five Cowboys whose scores were counted shot 7-under par to help overcome a 10-shot deficit and win their second Aggie Invitational title in three attempts.
"We just didn't finish the deal and I think that shows why they are a championship team, they finish strong every tournament they're in, you know they are going to and you better match them," A&M coach J.T. Higgins said. "We didn't play very well those last four or five holes and that's where tournaments are won and lost."
A&M, which was paired with OSU, had its five players whose scores were used for the team total finish the final five holes at 5-over.
The Cowboys and Aggies made the tournament a two-horse race. Oklahoma State came in at a 6-under 341-373--714, while the Aggies finished three strokes behind at 346-371--717.
Ohio State was third in the 12-team tournament, 24 shots back of A&M.
"Three-under is a good tournament, but we were in control and let it slip away," Higgins said. "We've played this course in every possible condition, so yeah, it's surprising, it's disappointing. I think we are a lot better than that, and I think we let it get away."
The true turning point was the par-5 15th, which was playing downwind. Oklahoma State played it at 2-under, while A&M came in at 4-over.
It was also the hole that Oklahoma State's Rickie Fowler, the individual champion by a stroke over teammate Morgan Hoffman, began his run. Fowler, who started slow as did most of the OSU team, birdied three of the final four holes. His only par was on the par-3 16th, and his 12-foot birdie putt there just slid past the hole.
"I was updated on what the scores were and where I was at, so I knew I needed to start hitting some good shots," said Fowler, who shot 65-73--138. "On the par-5, I made birdie, hit it close on 16 then made two good birdies coming in."
It was the third individual collegiate title for the sophomore Fowler, who won the Big 12 title last spring at Whispering Pines in Trinity.
"I knew I was tied at [minus] 5, so I needed to make birdie," said Fowler of the par-4 444-yard finishing hole. "I had 7-iron in because I didn't hit a very good drive and I hit to 8 feet and the putt was a little bit tough, but I stepped up, hit it and made it."
Fowler said it was nice to get one on his teammate, since Hoffman had already won a couple of events this season.
It also turned out to be a welcome birthday present for Fowler's father, Rod, who lives in California and walked the 18 holes with the All-American.
Fowler was tied at 7-under with the Aggies' Bronson Burgoon after the first round, but Burgoon never got it going on Sunday and finished the last six holes at 6-over. He ended up with a 9-over 81.
The Aggies' top finisher was John Hurley, who matched his 71 of Saturday and finished tied for fourth.
"I'm pretty happy with it," Hurley said. "I didn't hit the ball very well today, but if I missed my shots I left them in good position where I could get up and down."
Hurley chipped in on the first hole for birdie and was at 3-under after six holes despite a bogey on No. 2.
He had only 22 putts for the round and used his 2-iron off the tee on every par-4 and par-5 but two. One of those two times it cost him, as he hooked his drive on No. 15 out of bounds and came away with a double-bogey 7.
"All you have to do on a day like this is kind of hang in there, and I saw how the team was hanging in there so I figured if I could just keep it going we'd get the W," said Hurley, known for his distance. "But I think a lot of people did poorly on 15 and that hole kind of cost us."
It was the redshirt sophomore's best individual finish, but he was quick to add that it didn't matter since the team did not win.
"John Hurley played great and Matt Van Zandt finished fantastic, a couple under, and Geoff Shaw gave us another good showing," Higgins said. "I think other than that, we just didn't play very good."
Van Zandt had a 70-73--143, good for eighth place, while Shaw shot 72-73--145 for 13th. Burgoon dropped to 16th at 65-81--146, along with Andrea Pavan (69-77). Nacho Elvira was 21st in the 78-player field at 71-77--148.
After the scores on Saturday reflected a day of soft greens, no shots from the bunkers and getting to lift, clean and place the ball, Traditions proved it had some bite Sunday, especially with a north-northwest wind blowing.
The average score was five strokes higher on Sunday (78) than Saturday (73), when the only disadvantage was getting no extra distance off the tee because of the wet fairways.
A&M opened the second and final round down by five strokes. The Aggies made up the difference quickly and were ahead by the time they had all made it past the scoreboard at the par-3 fifth hole.
"I saw a few guys hit it [out of bounds] on the first hole so I knew we were going to get off to a rough start, but we are a tough team and we're definitely good at finishing," Fowler said.
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NOTES -- Lamar fired a 373, which tied OSU for the second best round on Sunday. The Cardinals moved up to seventh after starting the day next to last. ... A&M's 371 was the low total for the day. ... The toughest hole on Sunday was No. 5. The par-3 hole played at an average of 3.69 strokes. ... The par-4 18th went from the toughest hole on Saturday, at 4.40, to tied for the easiest on Sunday, at 4.03. ... On Saturday, six holes were played under par, compared to none on Sunday.
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