Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Sun Belt Conference
Trojans Complete SBC Championship; Casko Selected to All-Conference Team
4/25/2012 5:58:00 PM | Golf (M)
Team Results
Individual Results
MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – As the Troy men's golf team closed out the 2011-2012 season at the 2012 Sun Belt Conference Men's Golf Championship, senior Ricky Casko closed out his collegiate career as a member of the Sun Belt All-Conference team, which was released on Wednesday at the conclusion of the championship.
Casko (80-77-77-234), who has been at the top of the Sun Belt standings all season, closed out his career as a Trojan with a 34th place finish. Casko started the day with a bogey on the first hole, and got as low as a one-over, but four bogeys on the back nine resulted in a five-over performance on the day.
Troy was led by freshman Tolver Dozier (76-70-74-220), who entered Wednesday's final round in contention for the win in a tie for fifth. However, a two-over par, 74 wasn't enough as he finished in a tie for sixth with UALR's Colby Benton and North Texas' Jason Roets. Dozier was consistent on the front nine, carding eight even-pars, and only one bogey. A bogey on hole 13 sent him to two-over par, but a birdie on the 17th improved his score back to one-over. A bogey on the last hole made the difference between a sixth and a fourth place finish. Dozier's tie for sixth broke his previous personal best of the season, which was a tie for 15th back at the ASU Red Wolf Intercollegiate.
“I learned a lot this year and played consistently,” Dozier said. “This year was a learning experience between school, golf, and time management. I learned about college golf and what I need to work on.”
After finishing Tuesday's round tied for 16th, Jake Tucker (78-71-75-224) improved to a tie for 14th, which breaks his personal best for the season at a tie for 15th. Tucker got off to a bad start on the first hole with a bogey, but a birdie on the fourth sent him back to even-par. Bogeys on the fifth and sixth, and a double bogey on the ninth made for a four-over finish on the front nine. Tucker struggled with consistency on the back nine to finish the day at three-over, and the tournament at eight-over.
“We had two freshman in the top 15 in Tolver and Jake, so I'm very proud for their accomplishments,” head coach Matt Terry said.
Sophomore Kyle Thommesen (83-76-79-238) finished the championship at 22-over par in 45th. Wil Clowdus (86-83-73) carded an impressive 73 in Wednesday's final round to finish the tournament in 49th at 26-over par.
The Trojans finished the tournament with a team score of 910 in sixth place.
“Our goal was to trust every shot, and don't force anything,” Dozier said. “I was only a few shots difference of the lead. I just needed a few more putts falling to make the difference between me and the lead.”
No. 29 North Texas and No. 47 Middle Tennessee State battled for the team lead during the span of the 54-hole tournament, but the Mean Green came out on top as they edged by the Blue Raiders by eight strokes.
North Texas' Ty Spinella continued with his consistency as he claimed the team title after carding a third-round 71 to edge No. 63 Hunter Green of Middle Tennessee State.
For more information on Troy Athletics visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics, @TroyTrojansGolf and on Facebook by visiting www.Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.
Team Standings:
1. No. 29 North Texas (298-282-293-873); 2. No. 47 Middle Tennessee State (298-289-294-881); 3. Louisiana-Lafayette (311-288-293-892); 4. Arkansas-Little Rock (308-293-297-898); 5. South Alabama (306-300-295-901); 6. Troy (317-294-299-910); 7. Denver (321-291-302-914); 8. Florida Atlantic (316-300-310-926); 9. Louisiana-Monroe (327-297-304-928); 10. Western Kentucky (321-314-294-929); 11. Arkansas State (314-303-313-930)
Individual Standings:
1.Ty Spinella (North Texas) 71-72-71-214; 2. No. 63 Hunter Green (Middle Tennessee State) 77-70-70-217; 3. Brandt Garon (Louisiana-Lafayette) 79-70-69-218; T4. Chun-Ji Kim (Denver) 75-69-75-219; T4. Brett Patterson (Middle Tennessee State) 74-71-74-219
Troy Individuals:
T6. Tolver Dozier (76-70-74-220); T14. Jake Tucker (78-71-75-224); T34. Ricky Casko (80-77-77-234); 45. Kyle Thommesen (83-76-79-238); 49. Wil Clowdus (86-83-73-242)
