BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — Hunter Bott forced a sudden-death playoff and earned a runner-up finish to guide the UTSA men’s golf team to fourth place at The Clerico, which wrapped up Tuesday at Cedar Ridge Country Club (par 70/7,088 yards).
Bott entered the final round in second place after firing a 4-under-par-136 (68-68) on Monday, three shots back of Oklahoma State’s Preston Stout. The senior all-conference performer carded a 4-under 66 on Tuesday to pass Stout in the standings and move into a tie for first place with Oklahoma’s Ben Lorenz at 8-under 202.
Bott sank a short birdie putt on his final hole, the 369-yard, par-4 third, to earn a spot in the playoff with Lorenz. The two players were even through the first three holes before Lorenz won the individual title with a par on the fourth playoff hole.
Meanwhile, the Roadrunners moved up two spots on the final day after posting a 2-over 282, their best round of the week, to finish in sole possession of fourth with an 859 (285-292-282). UTSA ended up five strokes in front of host Oral Roberts and only seven back of team champion Little Rock (852) while earning the best team finish of the fall campaign. Michigan finished second with an 853, while UTEP was third (858) in the 12-team field.
Bott’s final round featured seven total birdies with a pair coming on his final two holes to force the playoff for the individual title. The Montgomery, Texas, native finished the event with 16 birdies, the top total in the field, and he led all players in par-3 (-3) and par-4 (-6) scoring.
Jack Wehman finished in a tie for 21st with a 217. The junior from Austin opened with a 74-72—146 on Monday before posting a 1-over 71 that included birdies on the 571-yard, par-5 fifth and 438-yard, par-4 18th holes.
David Harrison tied for 39th with a 221 (70-75-76), while Brock Blais was one shot behind him in a tie for 41st with a 222 (76-77-69). Bryson Thurston rounded out the lineup in 64th (73-78-84).
The tournament concluded the fall campaign for the Roadrunners, who will return to action on Jan. 29-30 at the Sea Best Invitational in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
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