Chopin’s ace, Gratton’s Top 3 finish highlight strong week for Men’s Golf
ALEXANDRIA, Louisiana – Nearly everything went right for the Texas A&M University-Victoria men's golf team this week.
The Jaguars finished second at Louisiana Christian's Wildcat Invitational at Links on the Bayou after all five players finished inside the Top 20 and four inside the Top 15. A&M-Victoria shot rounds of 291-282-289—862 to beat four other Red River Athletic Conference teams (A&M-Texarkana, A&M-San Antonio, Louisiana Christian, Jarvis Christian).
Brandon Gratton led the way with a third-place finish after rounds of 72-68-70—210 (-6).
It's the second Top 3 finish and third tournament under par for the Edmonton, Alberta, native. He was tied for first in Par 3 scoring with an average of 2.83 on the short holes. Gratton was T-6 in birdies at the tournament with 12 over the course of three rounds.
Paul Chopin was the only other Jaguar inside the Top 10, finishing seventh after shooting an even-par 74-70-72—216.
But the senior from Poitiers, France, delivered the biggest highlight of the week with a hole-in-one on the Par 3 sixth hole from 162 yards out in Round 2. It's believed to be the first-ever ace in a competitive round by an A&M-Victoria men's golfer.
Florian Simon and Charlie Ward made 13 birdies each this week, which was good enough for fourth among the field of 48 golfers.
Ward finished T-11 after shooting 74-69-76—219. The Manchester, England, native had 10 of his 13 birdies come in the first two rounds en route to a career-best finish in four tournaments at A&M-Victoria.
Simon finished 14th thanks to rounds of 71-75-74—220. The Top 15 finish is Simon's best yet in his freshman year.
Lucky Boonsrirat finished 20th thanks to rounds of 76-75-73—224. The senior from New Braunfels eagled the Par 5 13th hole in the final round to help turn in a final-round 73. It was one of eight eagles or better from the field during the week.
Competing as an individual, Edgar Hinojosa finished T-37 after going 78-79-78—235.
This was the final tournament of the fall for the Jaguars. Their spring schedule will be announced at a later date.