Nov. 10, 2002

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Despite senior Adam Rubinson's impressive victory over 2002 U.S. Amateur champion Ricky Barnes, the TCU Horned Frog golf team suffered a 3-2 loss to the fifth-seeded Arizona Wildcats at the Collegiate Match Play Championships. As a result, the Frogs, seeded sixth, took fourth place among the 16-team field, which consisted of the top 16 teams from the 2002 NCAA Championships.

Rubinson earned a 3-and-2 victory over Barnes in the top spot. The Fort Worth native led by just one through 14 holes, but claimed back-to-back wins at 15 and 16 to secure the victory. The 2002 honorable mention All-American finished the weekend with a 2-1-1 record.

TCU's other victory came from No. 4 Stephen Polanski, who breezed to a 5-and-4 win over Andy Connell. Polanski, a junior, finished the tournament with a 3-1 individual mark, the best record by a Horned Frog over the weekend.

In the closest loss of the day, sophomore J.J. Killeen dropped a 2-up decision to Reid Hatley. Killeen, who had trailed since losing the fourth hole and was down by four at one point, narrowed his deficit to just one through 17. However, Hatley claimed the 18th, and thus won by a 2-up score.

Chris Nallen won the first hole against TCU sophomore David Schultz and never looked back in a 5-and-3 victory in the second position. Schultz, the nation's 20th-ranked golfer, went 1-3 in his four matches. In the No. 5 slot, freshman Colby Beckstrom suffered a 4-and-3 loss at the hands of Blaine Peffley. Beckstrom finished the event with a 2-2 match record.

"This was a great experience for our golf team," said TCU head coach Bill Montigel. "It was a wonderful event to play in, and it will give us a lot of confidence heading into the spring season. We know that we can play with anybody in the country."

Second-seeded Augusta State, which beat TCU in a 3-2 nailbiter on Saturday, defeated No. 1 Clemson to win the event. The tournament was the sixth-ranked Horned Frogs' final event of the fall season.

Final Round Team Results:
Arizona defeats TCU 3 to 2

Final Round Individual Match Results:
1. Adam Rubinson (TCU) def. Ricky Barnes (Arizona), 3-and-2
2. Chris Nallen (Arizona) def. David Schultz (TCU), 5-and-3
3. Reid Hatley (Arizona) def. J.J. Killeen (TCU), 2-up
4. Stephen Polanski (TCU) def. Andy Connell (Arizona), 5-and-4
5. Blaine Peffley (Arizona) def. Colby Beckstrom (TCU), 4-and-3