Baylor freshman Cooper Dossey
(Baylor Athletics Photo)
HUMBLE, TX (February 19, 2017) -- With a steady round of golf Baylor closed the deal and won the All American title at the Golf Club of Houston. The 14th ranked Bears came into Sunday 12-strokes ahead before going onto finish 28-under and five shots in front of top-ranked Vanderbilt.
Vandy began the day in second place and got within three shots with six holes remaining only to have their rally fall just short.
For Baylor this was their second win of the season. After wining their final tournament of the fall, the Royal Oaks Intercollegiate, they have now won their opening tournament of the spring season.
Baylor was led throughout the weekend by wire-to-wire medalist winner Cooper Dossey. The freshman captured his first career individual title by combining rounds of 68-66-72 to post a 10-under tally that put him three shots in front of five players at 7-under and tied for second.
On Sunday Dossey made the turn in 2-over 38 before rebounding with 12th and 14th hole birdies to card a flawless 2-under 34 on the back nine.
During the All American the Bears also received top-10 play from Braden Bailey (T2; -7) and Matthew Perrine (T7; -4).
Joining Bailey in the second place tie were Matthias Schwab (Vanderbilt), James Anstiss (Southeastern Louisiana), Scott Stevens (South Carolina) and Theo Humphrey (Vanderbilt).
The rest of the top-5 in the team standings was concluded by host Houston (-12) in third, South Carolina (-5) in fourth and No. 17 Auburn (-2) in fifth.
ROUND TWO RECAP
With a 20-under second round No. 14 Baylor holds a 12-stroke lead heading into the final round of the All-American hosted by the Golf Club of Houston. Baylor began the round a shot behind first round leader Houston but they had no problem surging in front thanks to four under-par rounds. On Sunday Baylor will be looking for their second win of the season after capturing the Royal Oaks Intercollegiate to close the fall season.
Leading the way for Baylor is individual leader Cooper Dossey. The freshman has combined rounds of 68-66 to reach 10-under and open up a three-stroke lead over teammate Garrett May.
In the second round Dossey, a three-time high school Texas state champion, carded seven birdies and one bogey during his 6-under round. Dossey finished his day with an impressive four birdies in seven holes.
May, a sophomore, is 7-under and in second place after using a tournament best 7-under 65 to climb up the leaderboard. Beginning on No. 1 May birdied his opening hole, setting the tone for a nine birdie, two bogey round.
May birdied four of his first six holes and then four of his final eight. Saturday's tally matched the sixth-best round in program history.
Sophomore Braden Bailey is just one shot behind May and in third place at 6-under.
First round leader and host Houston could never get in going in the second round and they are in third place at 6-under while No. 17 Auburn and Rice are tied for fourth at 3-under.
The third round will begin at 8:00 a.m. CST.
SATURDAY MORNING RECAP
The All-American first round has been completed. Darkness cut Friday play short and with the second round at the Golf Club of Houston set to begin at 9:30 a.m. it is the host Cougars leading the way.
Houston turned in a 5-under effort in the first round and they lead No. 14 Baylor by a shot. Top-ranked Vanderbilt is looming in third place at even-par, the 2-over Rice Owls are fourth while SMU and Louisiana Tech share fifth at 3-over.
The Cougars, out of the American Athletic Conference, were led to the top of the leaderboard by the play of Matt Scobie who at 3-under is tied for second place.
Scobie will begin the second round one shot behind individual leader Cooper Dossey of Baylor. Dossey, 4-under, played a bogey-free round of golf with birdies coming on the fifth, eighth, 10th and 12th holes.
On Saturday first round play resumed at 7:30 a.m.
DAY ONE RECAP
It was a start and stop day and eventually with darkness descending first round plat at the All-American was suspended. With most of the field still on the second nine at the Golf Club of Houston it is the host Cougars at 9-under leading the way.
Currently, Houston has four players under-par and inside the top-15 of the standings. Michael Perras and Matt Williams have been the best of the bunch thus far and they are 3-under through 15 holes.
In second it is No. 14 Baylor at 4-under. The Bears completed their first round and they were led by individual co-leader Cooper Dossey, who is tied with UTSA's Bryce Alley at 4-under. Alley has three holes remaining in his opening round.
SMU is in third place at 2-under while Charlotte, No. 17 Auburn and top-ranked Vanderbilt share fourth at even-par. Of the group only Vanderbilt has concluded round one.
On Saturday the first round will resume at 7:30 a.m. CST with the second round scheduled to start around 9:30 a.m.