The second-ranked Alabama men’s golf team ran away from the field at the 2013 Aggie Invitational to post an 18-shot victory on Sunday and Cory Whitsett captured medalist honors at the Traditions Club, a par-72, 7,146-yard layout.
It was the Crimson Tide’s fifth victory of the season and the fourth in five events this spring. Alabama shot 3-under-par 285 in the final round to finish with an 18-under-par total of 846. Alabama is now 30-under over 26 rounds this season and an even more amazing 78-under par in 14 rounds this spring. The Crimson Tide is averaging 5.57-strokes per round below par in five events this spring.
“Everyone on our team is playing great right now,” Alabama head coach Jay Seawell said. “I think it starts each week with their preparation and attitude. When you are having success, it can be hard to motivate yourself; you really have to have good leadership. Our team has done a good job of not being satisfied and playing their best every day.”
Whitsett, a junior from Houston, Texas, claimed his second straight medalist honor and fifth of his career with a 1-shot victory over teammate Bobby Wyatt. The five-career wins are tied for the second most in school history (Steve Lowery) and are one back of record-holder Justin Thomas.
Whitsett and Wyatt both shot 2-under-par rounds of 70 Sunday while Whitsett finished 8-under-par 208 with Wyatt one shot back at 7-under 209.
Senior Scott Strohmeyer played the final 12 holes at 2-under par to shot 72 and post a career-best third-place finish. Strohmeyer’s 54-hole total of 210 also set a career best by two shots.
“Those three guys [Whitsett, Wyatt and Strohmeyer] played really well this weekend,” Seawell said. “Any time you have guys finish 1-2-3, the team is going to do well, but it ended up being those three guys competing against each other to win the tournament.”
Thomas was the Tide’s fourth counting score in the final round at 1-over-par 73. He finished tied for 18th at 3-over 219. Junior Trey Mullinax turned his best round of the tournament at 2-over 74 and posted a tie for 53rd at 12-over-par 228.
Kent State finished second as a team at the Aggie Invitational with an even-par 864. No. 4 Washington was third at 4-over-par 868 while No. 19 Arkansas fired the lowest round of the day at 282 to finish fourth at 5-over. No. 5 UCLA and host Texas A&M tied for fifth at 6-over 870.
Whitsett now leads the team with a 70.96 scoring average and is 15-under par for the season. Thomas is just four strokes back at 11-under for the year at 71.10. Wyatt also moved under par for the season at 2-under and has a 71.46 scoring average.
Alabama’s focus now moves to the SEC championship at the Seaside Golf Club in St. Simon’s Island, Ga., on April 19-21. The Crimson Tide is the defending SEC champion and will be looking for the school’s fourth SEC title.
