University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gophers Finish Second At Big Ten Championships
4/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
The final round was highlighted by horrendous playing conditions that saw scores soar far above par on the par 71, 7,168-yard Conway Farms Golf Club layout. Despite the rain- soaked windy dreary day, the Maroon and Gold battled throughout and held the clubhouse lead for much of the afternoon. Unfortunately, the weather let up, the rain subsided, and the wind died considerably enabling the Wildcats to finish their round in docile conditions compared to earlier in the day. The Wildcats held steady and finished the tournament at 24-over 1160 led by individual winner Chris Wilson. Wilson fired an amazing final round 69 for a tournament total 4-under-par 280, one shot better than Ryan Brehm of Michigan State.
"I was proud of the guys today especially Bronson and Clayton," said head coach Brad James. "The guys battled all day under terrible conditions and we had a chance to win, but you have to give Northwestern all the credit. They played brilliantly today and deserved to win."
The Gophers were led by two-time All-American Bronson La'Cassie who finished fourth at 1-over 285. La'Cassie led a late birdie charge that brought the Gophers to the brink of a championship. The junior from Brisbane, Queensland finished with three consecutive birdies to leapfrog the Gophers one shot ahead of Purdue and give them the clubhouse lead. La'Cassie chipped in for birdie on the par 3, 223-yard 17th and then made a miraculous birdie on the par 5, 570- yard 18th.
With the Gophers trailing the Boilermakers by two shots with only La'Cassie left on the course for the Gophers, his drive found the rough on the 18th. Instructed by assistant coach Andrew Tank to go for the green with his second shot, La'Cassie's 3-wood appeared to find the water in front of the green seemingly ending the Gopher championship hopes. With Purdue's No.1 player Pariya Junhasavasdikul laying up and having a wedge to the green, the gallery surrounding the 18th green figured the Gophers' hopes were sunk.
Junhasavasdikul then dumped his wedge into the creek with his third shot, took his penalty stroke, dropped, and made double-bogey 7. Unbelievably, La'Cassie's ball had not found the water, it had skipped across the creek and was safe in the rough short of the green. La'Cassie almost made his third from off the green and drained the putt for birdie to give the Gophers a 1-shot clubhouse lead. But, as soon as the Gophers were done celebrating the weather cleared and the Wildcats played steady golf down the stretch to secure the title.
La'Cassie was named to the All-Tournament Team and won the Les Bolstad Award for lowest season scoring average at 72.68. Joining La'Cassie on the All- Tournament Team was sophomore Clayton Rask. Rask had a career tournament finishing at 5-over 289. Rask was clutch all day matching La'Cassie's 74 and recording a career-high fifth-place finish.
Two other Gophers finished in the top 20 as junior Niall Turner tied for 18th at 298 and senior Josh Persons tied for 20th at 299. Freshman Victor Almstrom carded an 80 today and tied for 35th at 307.
Minnesota will advance to the NCAA Regionals by being ranked in the top six of its district. Regionals are set for May 18-20 at a site to be determined.
Players Mentioned
