ACU’s Wildcats finished second at the Charles Coody Intercollegiate Tournament the last two days here in Abilene.  The recently No. 1 ranked team finished just behind Central Oklahoma, but still had a great opening to their season.

Coach Mike Campbell was very pleased with how his team performed in their first contest, and expects the team to continue to grow. “We had a two shot lead after the first day, and we were in the final groups of tee times.” He explained that this was a good position for his team to be in. “That is a good situation for the young guys to be in because it’s all part of the maturing process, and they were growing as a team this tournament.”

Central Oklahoma was ranked third in nation going into the tournament, returning with their starting five golfers from the national tournament. “They are very experienced, but we hung right there with them,” Campbell said. “Going into this tournament I knew we had a young team, but we also have a good mix of veterans.”

Campbell certainly does have a group of outstanding returning players such as junior All American Alex Carpenter. He agreed that the team is off to a great start. “The team played pretty solid,” he said. “It’s good for everyone, especially the new players to get experience playing college golf.”

Carpenter finished first Tuesday in the individual tournament, shooting a final round of 69 to win it for the first time. “I put too much pressure on myself in the past,” Carpenter said. Playing in a home tournament added pressure to win, and he said lowering his expectations paid off.

Carpenter shot even in front nine with a pair of birdies offset by a pair of bogeys. He was 2-under-par on the back nine, dropping in birdies on the par-4, 431-yard 13th hole and the par-5, 571-yard 17th hole to win it all.

Carpenter was also excited to win here in Abilene. “It was special to pull out a win at home in front of all of my friends, especially my girlfriend Maggye Jordan,” Carpenter said. “She was in the gallery supporting me the whole time sporting ACU purple to cheer me on.”

Carpenter placed along with sophomore Trey Sullivan tying for fourth at 138 (69-69); freshman Corbin Renner 23rd at 146 (70-76); Drew Norries, tying for 38th at 149 (75-74); and Ian Evans tying for 52nd at 153.

The Wildcats shot a 4-over-par 288 on Tuesday (after a 279 on Monday), but the Bronchos from Central Oklahoma shot a 6-under-par 282 to finish first at 563 after day two of the tournament. ACU finished second at 567 (279-288) with Our Lady of the Lake in third at 571 (288-283), West Texas A&M in fourth at 575 (287-288) and Midwestern State in fifth at 577 (285-292).

The golf team will return next Monday and Tuesday at the Dornick Hills Classic in Ardmore, Oklahoma.