IRISH STUDENT CONFOUNDS

COACH BY WINNING RICE

INDIVIDUAL TITLE IN TEXAS

Aaron O’Callaghan, a sophomore student from Cork, holed a 12ft eagle putt at the first play-off hole to win the Rice Intercollegiate tournament over a 7,184yd, par-72 course at Westwood Golf Club, Houston.
O’Callaghan, pictured right, was playing as an individual, which means his Southeastern Louisiana University team coach, Tim Baldwin, considered five other players on the squad were likely to score better than the Irishman.
But O’Callaghan had rounds of 71, 77 and 69 to tie with Harrison Moore (Charleston) (71-72-74) on one-over-par 216.
Aaron trailed Moore by five strokes after 36 holes but then produced a final round of 69, the lowest by any of the 72 players over the 54 holes.

HOLED EAGLE PLAY-OFF PUTT
Moore holed a 20ft birdie putt at the first play-off hole but O’Callaghan sank his shorter putt for a 3 to take the individual title.
Southeastern Louisiana have several English and Irish players on their roster.
Sophomore James Taverner from Lordon was seventh on 222 (73-77-72).
Junior Peter O’Keefe from Cork tied for 28th place on 224 (78-76-70).
Sophomore Graham Benson from Leighton Buzzard finished joint 40th on 237 (74-86-77).
Coach Benson said: “Aaron is usually a starter for us but our other players have been playing very well in qualify rounds. I wanted Aaron to get some competition in this week so that’s why I had him play as an individual. He performed exceptionally well. Needless to say, he’ll be in our starting line-up next time out.”
O’Callaghan’s exclusion from the Southeastern Louisiana team probably made the difference between them winning and finishing second on 905 – five shots behind Sam Houston State.