BOL Round Table

#1 Texas has their work cut out for them tomorrow if they hope to see the weekend.

Looking at the leaderboard, you have to think we are in outstanding shape. We have a two shot lead over UCLA but then a 7 shot lead over everyone else on the course, and it looks like there isn't a single team on the course today under par. I would assume that if we get in at +4, we will be leading the tournament with a very comfortable view of the top 8.

Tide in at +3 on the day, +4 overall

T1 Alabama 285 287 572
T5 Justin Thomas (1) 70 70 140
T9 Cory Whitsett (3) 73 68 141
T58 Hunter Hamrick (4) 73 73 146
T79 Scott Strohmeyer (5) 71 76 147
T96 Bobby Wyatt (2) 71 77 148

No team in the morning session is below par. Afternoon session just under way.

t1 Bama +4 (F)
t1 Florida +4 (thru 1)
3 Oklahoma +5 (hasn't teed off)
t4 Iowa +6 (hasn't teed off)
t4 FSU +6 (thru 1)
t4 UCF +6 (hasn't teed off)
7 UCLA +7 (thru 17)
t8 three teams tied at +11 (none have teed off)

I'm in favor of them just calling it off right here and let us take our chances in match play with the current top 8.

I don't remember where we were and how many shots we had over 9th last year, but it seemed like it was very comfortable. I made the mistake of thinking we had this part wrapped up and I couldn't believe how quick it came apart on us and we never did stop the bleeding.

Bama looks like it has a great shot of making the top 8 after today, since we are the lowest score among those teams done for the day. Good job guys! Number 1, 3, and 4 seeds all look like they will be out of the top 8.

I understand what you say has zero effect on the team and the same goes for what I say.

But last year we went into the final day safely within the top 8 (found the results page on the NCAA but don't feel like trying to figure up where we were and who was 8th going into the final round of stroke play) and then proceeded to fire a +28 for the day. That was one of the top 5 highest scores of the day.

So I will hold off counting we are into the final 8, until we are into the final 8.

Some quotes from today:

Jay Seawell – Alabama Head Coach
On the Crimson Tide’s round of 3-over 287
“I feel really good about the round. I didn’t realize the golf course was playing that hard until I looked at a scoreboard on 14. I was really proud of the guys. I feel like they grinded out a nice round today, when it was easy not too.”

On the conditions
“A day like today, things can definitely get away from you. That is where Cory (Whitsett) stepping up with a 3-under, those are the things that change rounds. Our guys in the back were grinding, but they were three or four over par most of the day. To have a guy shoot 68 today, that was a huge help.”

On playing in the morning
“We will find out in about five hours, but I think playing in the morning was very advantageous. You could just all of a sudden see, as the winds picked up and the greens got firmer, the course get hard. This golf course will beat you up if you allow it too. You have to stay tough and strong.”

Cory Whitsett – Alabama Sophomore
On his round of 3-under 68
“It was nice to come back in the morning and get some fresh greens. Poana is a great surface to putt on early in the day, it is really smooth. I was able to make some putts early, just kept things going and then finished strong.”

On his birdie on the 16th hole
“The birdie I made on 16 was important for me. I hit a good tee shot on 15, but just barely caught that right bunker and made bogey. The round could have gone one of two ways at that point. It was nice to stick a shot in there close (on 16), about eight feet, and make it.”

On the conditions
“The pins were a little tougher today, but they were fair. You could get at them, you just have to hit a really quality shot. The lack of wind early helped me a lot, obviously, the wind picked up late in the round, but it always does here.”

Yeah, Texas/Southern Cal/Cal will all be in the top 10 starting the round tomorrow or right at it.

Two key quotes. Pretty sure Bama will be in the last group to tee off, thus Bama will most likely be faceing worn/bumpy greens and higher winds until late in the round when the wind dies back down.

Same with the teams placed 2-6.

Look for some of the teams off the pace who came in seeded high to post some good scores and hop right back into this tournament

Yep, played out the way we thought. UA is in outstanding shape and UCLA is in great shape for one of those eight spots. The rest will battle it out but damn near everybody is in striking distance.