HUMBLE, Texas (Feb. 8, 2021) – Oklahoma Christian's opening day of the 2021 spring golf season on Monday had plenty of positives for the Eagles – an ace, four players in the top 10 and a nine-shot lead in the Houston Classic at The Golf Club of Houston.
After two rounds on a temperate day, with temperatures in the 60s and light wind, No. 20-ranked OC posted a team score of 573 (3-under-par), good for a nine-shot lead over No. 11 Arkansas Tech (582). The only other squad in the nine-team NCAA Division II field within reasonable striking distance was Southern Arkansas, which was third at 587.
The Eagles' day started with a bang, as junior
Alex Motes recorded an ace in the first round on the par-3, 171-yard No. 7 using an 8-iron. It's thought to be only the second competitive hole-in-one in OC's considerable men's golf history and the first since
Sam Johnston recorded one on Oct. 24, 2012, in the final round of the National Christian College Athletic Association Championship at The Hombre Golf Club in Panama City Beach, Fla.
Motes, a junior from Sulphur Springs, Texas, finished his round with a 2-over-par 74 and followed with a 70 on the 6,945-yard course to move into a tie for fourth in the 49-man field with teammate
Alejandro Armijo, a sophomore from Rio Rancho, N.M., who shot 71-73—144.
They were one shot behind OC junior
Andres Brictson of Merida, Mexico, who was tied for second at 1-under 143 after rounds of 73 and 70. Brictson and Andres Jacobs of Arkansas Tech trailed the leader, Ryan Timmerman of Southern Arkansas, by one shot.
OC senior
Trevor Norby of Carlsbad, Calif., gave the Eagles a fourth entry in the top 10, as he was tied for 10th at 146, shooting rounds of 71 and 75. Just one shot out of the top 10 was freshman
Mateo Pulcini of Rio Cuarto, Argentina, who shot 70-77—147 and was tied for 12th.
Freshman
Chase Gardner of Snohomish, Wash., playing as an individual, shot 83-77—160 and was in 41st place.
The final round will be played Tuesday, with the Eagles seeking their second tournament win of the 2020-21 campaign.
