Men’s Golf Uses Strong Back Nine to Capture Bayou City Collegiate Classic Title

HOUSTON — The Rice Men’s Golf team set a school record on its way to capturing the Bayou City Collegiate Classic championship, played at Westwood Golf Club.
 
After making the turn at one-under par, the Owls caught on fire, carding a back nine -8 to finish with a final round best nine-under 279 to finish a school record -25, six strokes over second-place Houston. It is their first team title since the 2018 Ryman Hospitality Intercollegiate, and their largest victory since the 2010 Rice Intercollegiate.
 
Their 54-hole score of 839 is the second-lowest in school history.
 
Senior Lukas Boandl finished runner-up behind Houston’s Grant Doggett, his third career top two finish, after carding a 70 to finish -8. He has eight rounds of par or better this year and 46 in his career.
 
Redshirt junior Henry Daly tied for fifth-place at -6 after posting a 73.­
 
Sophomore Daniel Zou had the best round of the day, firing a 68 to finish five-under in a tie for seventh-place. He has six rounds of par or better this year and 27 in his career. He also has two rounds in the 60’s this year and 11 in his career.
 
Freshman Raines Watson finished in 12th-place at -3, the best finish of his young career, after carding a 70, his fourth round of par or better this year.
 
Junior Reggie Zhu posted a 71 to tie for 13th-place at -2, his fourth round of par or better this year and 23rd of his career.
 
Redshirt junior Davis Byrd shot a 76 to tie for 23rd-place at +3. Juniors Jaivir Pande and Braeden Hoyt tied for 31st and 70th-place, respectively. Pande carded a 74 to finish +5, while Hoyt shot a 76 to finish +16.
 
JUSTIN EMIL QUOTABLE
 
“I’m just really proud of our team. They work really hard, and they never got out of the moment this week. We had one of the best back nines of our career’s here at Rice. We finally get to take home the trophy of the Bayou City Collegiate Classic in record style. I’m just really excited. We still have two tournaments left this fall. We’ll enjoy this moment for a few days and then get back at it. This team is really good, and I can’t wait to get back out there.”
 
NEXT UP
 
The Owls return to the links this weekend when it travels to Dallas for the Trinity Forest Invitational, Oct. 5-7.
 
1       Rice                                         277-283-279/839            -25
2       Lukas Boandl                           69-69-70/208                  -8
t4     Henry Daly                                67-70-73/210                  -6
t7     Daniel Zou                                70-73-68/211                  -5
12     Raines Watson                        71-72-70/213                  -3
t13   Reggie Zhu                               71-72-71/214                  -2
t23   Davis Byrd                                72-71-76/219                  +3
t31   Jaivir Pande                             73-74-74/221                  +5
t70   Braeden Hoyt                           77-79-76/232                  +16