Buttacavoli named Golfer of the Week
A career-best performance by senior Frank Buttacavoli and a breakthrough performance by freshman Addison Awe were the bright spots, as the golf team finished 7th among 11 teams at the Border Olympics in Laredo, Texas last weekend.
Buttacavoli, who earned Western Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week honors, led the team with a one-under 215 and finished in third place individually. Awe, who had only played in one tournament previously — the Rice Intercollegiate — shot a 71 in the first round and finished in a tie for 26th place overall.
‘Frank’s tournament was one of [the] best that he has had at Rice,’ head coach Dick Ellis said. ‘I think that he is peaking at the right time. … His play set an example for everyone else.’
Buttacavoli said he is more focused on team goals.
‘It’s always nice to get awards and recognition, but the award my team and I are aspiring to get is the WAC championship,’ he said.
The Owls’ five-man team last weekend included two freshmen. Buttacavoli said he tries to lead by staying positive.
‘I do have high expectations for myself, but I am very comfortable out there,’ Buttacavoli said. ‘I know that if I am not having fun, there is no reason why I should be [playing]’ Awe said he has continued to work hard in practice despite not seeing much tournament action.
‘As the last two months progressed, I started to feel more comfortable with my playing ability and [in doing so, gained] a lot more confidence,’ Awe said.
Awe opened the first round five-under after 10 holes but finished one-under after a series of putting mistakes. His second day featured similar mental mistakes, including six three-putts, but he regained his composure and shot an even-par 72 in the final round.
Ellis said Awe has the potential to join Jeff Krakowiak as a consistent freshman contributor.
‘Addison has demonstrated he is a game player,’ Ellis said. ‘When given the chance in Laredo, he really performed well. … He has the potential to [shoot] some very good scores.’
Four individual scores count toward each day’s team total, and the Owls were hampered last weekend by having a fourth score that was considerably worse than their other three. Ellis said he hopes the team can improve its consistency at the Morris Williams Intercollegiate, which will take place April 4-5 in Austin.
‘I think we are definitely going to be ready for the next tournament,’ Ellis said. ‘If we can get four good scores then it should put us in a good position at Austin.’
Awe said the team is looking to improve on its overall scores at the Morris Williams Intercollegiate.
‘As a team, I believe that a top six finish would be a great showing for us and would be a good [finish] before … the WAC Championships,’ Awe said.
Despite Buttacavoli’s and Awe’s performances, the Owls faltered at critical points in the tournament and shot a 23-over 887 as a team, 25 strokes behind tournament champion Baylor. Senior Matt Toohey and freshman Jeff Krakowiak carded 229s to finish tied for 44th, while senior Eddie Rowe shot 233 and ended the tournament in 53rd place.
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