Nov. 6, 2008

C-USA Golf Notebook

IRVING, Texas- At the close of the fall season, both five men's and women's golf teams collected top-100 rankings according to Golfweek Magazine. On the men's side, UCF leads the pack at No. 26 followed by Tulsa (No. 40), UAB (No. 51), Memphis (No. 72), and SMU (No. 97). The Knights also lead the women's side. Ranked No. 39, UCF is followed by East Carolina (No. 46), Tulsa (No. 57), Tulane (No. 61) and UTEP (No. 94).

C-USA golf teams will resume play in February for the start of the Spring season.

Michael Buttacavoli of Rice and David Johnson of UCF share this week's C-USA Men Golfer of the Week honor after capturing second-place finishes in their respective tournaments last weekend. Buttacavoli fired a three-round three-under-par 210 (70-67-73) at the Stockton Sports Commission Pacific Invitational to help lead the Owls to a tie for third-place overall. The Knights used Johnson's two-round total of eight-under-par 134 (67-67) to win the Hummingbird Intercollegiate. Christina Wentworth of UAB claims the Women's Golfer of the Week honor. The senior tied for second-place at the Blazers' own Fall Beach Blast after shooting a two-day total of one-over-par 145 (74-71) to finish as the top C-USA golfer in the competition.

MALE CO-GOLFERS OF THE WEEK
Michael Buttacavoli - Rice
Jr., Miami Beach, Fla.
Buttacavoli, a member of the 2008 men's golf All-Academic team, tied for second-place at the Stockton Sports Commission Pacific Invitational in Stockton, Calif. The junior fired a three-round score of 210 (76-67-73) to help lead the Owls to a tie for third-place overall. His second-round score of 67 marks the fifth-best round in Rice history since 1985 and was also a personal best. In addition, the 67 was the best one-round performance by an Owl this fall. This is the first career weekly honor for Buttacavoli.

David Johnson - UCF
Sr., Palm Bay, Fla.
Johnson, the reigning C-USA Newcomer of the Year, finished in second-place at Western Carolina's Hummingbird Intercollegiate with a two-round total of 134 (67-67). The Knights used Johnson impressive rounds to help them win their first team title of the season. The award is the second of Johnson's career and first of the season.

FEMALE GOLFER OF THE WEEK
Christina Wentworth - UAB
Sr., Macon, Ga.
Wentworth led all C-USA golfers at the UAB Fall Beach Blast as she finished tied for second-place in the two-day tournament. The senior shot a one-over-par 145 (74-71) to help pace the Blazers to an eighth-place finish in the 18-team field. The weekly honor is the second of Wentworth's career.

OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
NICOLAS GEYGER - TULSA
Geyger entered the final round of play at the Rees Jones Invitational tied for fourth-place, but ended up finishing tied for 15th with fellow senior teammate Rob Laird. Geyger fired a 227 (71-74-82) helping the Golden Hurricane to a sixth-place finish in the12-team field.

ROB LAIRD - TULSA
Laird got off to a hot start at the Rees Jones Invitational. The senior golfer carded four birdies on his way to an opening score of 72. After a second round 78, Laird bounced back in his final round to improve three positions to finish the tournament tied for 15th-place after making four birdies to shoot 77.

BRAD SCHNEIDER - UCF
Schneider finished third at The Hummingbird Intercollegiate carding rounds of 68 and 71 to claim a two-round score 139 and help the Knights to their first team title of the season.

LARIE LYNCH - MARSHALL
Lynch continued her strong play, following up her opening day round of 74 with a 78 on Tuesday. Her 36-hole total of 152 put her in a tie for 14th place while helping the Thundering Herd to a 12th-place finish.

SARAH DODSON - SMU
Dodson was the Mustangs' top performer at the Wolfdancer Championships in Lost Pines, Texas. Dodson tied for 39th-place after shooting a three-round total 242 (76-83-83).

VIRGINIA ESPEJO - SOUTHERN MISS
Espejo led the Golden Eagles to a fourth-place finish at the UAB Fall Beach Blast topping C-USA team and she finished tied for 14th individually. Espejo fired a 152 (79-73) in the 36-hole event.

KAMRYN RUFFIN - TULSA
Ruffin finished the College Match Play Championships in Kissimee, Fla., tied for 74th-place. The freshman collected rounds of 78 and 82 totaling a two-day score of 160.