Bulldogs Battle Through Challenges to Secure Fourth at Patriot Open
The UMS-Wright Bulldogs spent their Mardi Gras break doing what they do best—playing golf—at the prestigious Patriot Open in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Hosted by American Christian Academy, the tournament is known for its difficulty, challenging players with narrow fairways, small greens, and the need to master the course's many nuances. This year, the Bulldogs faced not only the course's complexity but also chilly weather and fierce winds, testing their skills and resilience.
As the tournament kicked off, the Bulldogs faced less-than-ideal conditions, with cold temperatures adding to the challenge. The team didn't perform as well as they had hoped on day one, but they still showed flashes of strong play. Junior Hunter Smallwood was the standout of the day, leading the team with an impressive two-over-par 71. Senior Thomas Crane followed closely with a four-over 75. Freshman Henry Brown posted an 81, Junior Parker Crabtree carded an 84, and Sophomore Witt Cayce rounded out the scoring with an 89.
By the end of the first round, the Bulldogs were sitting in 10th place out of 18 teams, a solid but not ideal position. Despite the challenges, the team remained confident heading into day two.
The weather took a turn on Day Two, bringing warmer temperatures and strong winds ahead of an incoming storm. While the morning saw mild gusts, the winds picked up significantly in the afternoon, reaching over 20 miles per hour with gusts over 30 mph. But the Bulldogs were undeterred. They came out firing and put together their best performance of the tournament, shooting a team score of 299, the second-lowest team score of the day.
Freshman Henry Brown led the way with a stellar two-under-par 69, while Senior Thomas Crane added a solid one-under 70. Junior Parker Crabtree shot a 79, Sophomore Witt Cayce turned in an 81, and Junior Hunter Smallwood finished with a 91. With their strong performance on day two, the Bulldogs jumped up to a fourth-place finish, proving they weren't going to let a tough first day define their tournament.
The Bulldogs' ability to bounce back and post a strong score on the second day shows the team's resilience and potential. Finishing in fourth place at the Patriot Open is a respectable result, especially given the tough conditions they faced. Looking forward, UMS-Wright will aim to put together two consistent rounds at their next tournament, the Dumbwaiter Tournament at Steelwood Country Club in Loxley on March 10-11.
If the Bulldogs can build on their performance at the Patriot Open, they'll be in a strong position to continue improving as the season progresses.
