It seems as though since no other golfers have been able to stop Alex Carpenter, the weather had to step in. High winds and colder temperatures halted Carpenter’s hot streak for a week, at least at the UCO/Kickingbird Classic in Edmond, Okla. Carpenter finished in ninth, shooting 11 over par for the tournament.
“It was pretty rough trying to control your golf ball when the weather channel said to secure your patio furniture and that it was hazardous for people to drive small vehicles,” Carpenter said. “But for the conditions, I was proud of how our team hung in there.”
Defending Division II national champion Cyril Bouniol led the Wildcats finishing in a tie for third behind three consecutive rounds at two over par.
“It was tough playing such extreme conditions,” Bouniol said. “It showed us that no matter what the conditions are we are a very competitive team.”
The Wildcats finished second as a team but they were nowhere close to host Central Oklahoma University. UCO was easily the best team on the second day of the tournament and ran off with the victory beating the second-place ‘Cats by 19 strokes. Cameron University rounded out the top three, four strokes behind ACU.
“Everybody gave his best,” Bouniol said. “We just got beat by a UCI team that played an unreal round Tuesday.”
It looked as if the Wildcats would put a player at the top of the podium for the 12th time this year as senior Bouniol led the tournament after the opening two rounds were marred by strong gusts that toyed with other golfers. Bouniol hung tough though and played consistently enough for a high finish.
Bouniol and Carpenter were joined in the top 10 by junior Tyler Sheppard. Sheppard shot the same as Carpenter and finished alongside him in ninth.
Next week the Wildcats will take a much-needed break after having tournaments in the past two weekends. The break will also provide the ‘Cats an opportunity to prepare for the Lone Star Conference Championships in San Antonio on April 18-19.
The Wildcats are one of the favorites in the event along with the other two teams from the top of the leaderboard last weekend, UCO and Cameron.
Last year at the conference championships, the Wildcats made a late rally and won their first conference championship since 1995. Not only did the Wildcats have success at the team level, but Bouniol and Carpenter shared the individual title after Carpenter birdied the 18th hole of the final round to force a tie.
