North Texas Daily

Jordan Ottaway // Staff Writer

The Mean Green men’s golf team got its first team title of the season at the Argent Financial Classic in Choudrant, La., March 3 to 4, and has now won this tournament on back-to-back years.

Due to the below freezing temperatures, the tournament was reduced to two rounds instead of the traditional three. Just like in the John Hayt Invitational in Florida a week before, the weather became a bigger factor for UNT at this course.

“The guys played very well in some very difficult conditions,” head coach Brad Stracke said. “It was a team effort and everyone contributed to the win”

UNT shot an overall score of 294 in the first round and a 292 in the second to beat Louisiana Tech University by two strokes for a two-day total of 586. UNT went into the second round one stroke behind Louisiana Tech.

The players did not get any roll in the fairways, which made the 7,105 yard-long course play seem longer. It didn’t help having to play in three layers of clothing, either.

Despite the weather, UNT had four players finish in the top-13 overall, led by junior Juan Munoz’s fourth-place finish. He had two solid rounds of an even par 72 and a one over par 73.

This was the best finish of Munoz’s career and his first top-five finish of the season.

“I like this course a lot and feel that it was a good fit for me,” Munoz said.

With the course playing tougher than usual, players had roller coaster-like rounds, but were able to bounce back and finish strong. Starting five over-par in his first nine holes, sophomore Gonzalo Rubio then carded three birdies and finish the back nine two under.

“I did start very bad the first round,” Rubio said. “But being forced to get up and down almost every hole gave me some momentum.”

Freshmen Cory Churchman and Andrew Hudson made their names known as well by finishing tied for 13th, the best finish of the year for Churchman.

UNT has until next weekend to prepare for the Schenkel Invitational in Statesboro, Ga., March 14 to 16.

Feature photo: Freshman Eji Kwon chips onto the green at Oakmont Country Club in Denton on Sept. 4. The Mean Green women’s golf team is currently in Corpus Christi competing in the Islander Classic. Photo courtesy of Rick Yeatts