HOCKLEY, Texas – BYU men’s golf leads their pool after winning both matches against No. 11-seeded Houston and No. 13-seeded West Virginia in the opening rounds of Big 12 Match Play.
The Cougars lead their pool by two points over No. 3-seeded Utah second-place.
“My favorite part about the Big 12 Match Play is being able to compete with my teammates in a match play format,” Tyson Shelley said. “We don’t get to play a lot of events that use this format, so it makes this tournament really fun.”
BYU beat the No. 11 seed Houston Cougars 3-1-1, earning them three points in the opening round of pool play, to take an early lead over West Virginia and Utah. In the afternoon round, BYU took down the No. 13-seeded West Virginia Mountaineers, 3-2.
Morning vs. Houston
Shelley started off his day matched up against Bryant Hiskey II, who he beat 5 and 3. Shelley quickly found himself 2 up after winning the second and third holes, and maintained his lead through the remainder of the match.
Sophomore Peter Kim closed out his match against Hudson Weibel, 1 up. Kim’s largest lead was 3 up, which he carried for five straight holes.
Angus Klintworth finished his match 1 up over Houston's Laurenz Schiergen. Cole Ponich halved his match with Jacob Borow, while Simon Kwon fell to Wolfgang Glawe 1 down.
Afternoon vs. West Virginia
In his second match of the day, Shelley made quick work of West Virginia’s Pierce Grieve as he closed out the match on the 13th hole, 7 and 5.
Ponich beat Max Green 3 and 1, while Kwon earned a needed 1-up win over Todd Duncan.
Kim recorded another successful round, completing his match 4 and 3 over Carson Kammann. Klintworth fell to Kaleb Wilson 3 and 1.
The Cougars return to Houston Oaks Country Club for the final day of pool play, where they will take on No. 3-seed Utah Utes tomorrow morning.