Men's Golf 3/5/2019 6:58:00 PM

Jack Trent Wins First Career Title At Prestigious Southern Highlands Collegiate

Rebel sophomore earns exemption for PGA Tour's Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - It took three extra holes, but UNLV men's golf sophomore Jack Trent captured the individual title Tuesday at the prestigious Southern Highlands Collegiate, which was played at Southern Highlands Golf Club (par 72, 7,374 yards).

Trent began the final round with a three-shot lead, increasing it throughout the day, but an 8-under-par 64 (nine birdies and a bogey) by Texas' Cole Hammer, which included birdies on the final three holes of the round, resulted in the pair tying for first at 10-under 206 after 54 holes.

Both players bogeyed the first playoff hole, then each recorded par before Trent made birdie the third time replaying No. 18 to win the first collegiate tournament of his career and earn an exemption into the PGA Tour's Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, Oct. 3-6, at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.

"This is my first college win so for it to be here in my hometown after moving from Australia and then to be playing in the Shriners' PGA Tour event in Las Vegas as well, I'm just at a loss for words, this is so cool," Trent said following the day's action.

The clutch shot that won it for Jack Trent @UNLVGolf @Golfstat #shotoftheday pic.twitter.com/RYswkbt6PE
— Live Streaming America (@LiveStreamingAm) March 6, 2019

He hit his drive on the first playoff hole in the bunker.

"I thought I was going to lose it there, but he (Cole Hammer) missed his putt and I felt rejuvenated and capitalized on some good wedge shots. I wasn't really thinking when I was going through it."

Trent shot 1-under 71 during the final round. Stanford's Brandon Wu placed third, two shots back at 8-under.

"It was tremendous," UNLV men's golf head coach Dwaine Knight said. "To be able to play in the Shriners event is a wonderful opportunity for him. All of our guys have the dream to play on the PGA Tour and now he has a spot.

"He didn't hit a good drive on the first playoff hole. It was actually plugged in the bunker and a really tough lie. He decided to just kind of kick it out and take what he could out of it. Fortunately, his opponent ended up missing a short putt to win it and that just relaxed Jack and got him real comfortable going forward. He hit some great shots from there. The shot he hit on the last hole that won it was just fantastic."

No. 6 Oklahoma won the team title at 14-under after a final-round 6-under. No. 8 Texas finished second, one shot back at 13-under. Stanford was third at 10-under, followed by No. 22 Texas Tech in fourth at 8-under. No. 9 California rounded out the top five at 7-under. The Rebels placed in a tie for seventh as a team at 1-under after a final-round 1-over.

The tournament annually attracts one of the strongest fields in college golf and this year included five of the nation's top-10 ranked teams.

COMPLETE REBEL SCORES:
• T1st – Jack Trent, sophomore (67-68-71=206, -10)
• T21st – David Rauch, freshman (69-73-74=216, E)
• T31st – Justin Kim, junior (77-72-70=219, +3)
• T50th – Alex Jordan, senior (74-76-73=223, +7) *
• T60th – Harry Hall, senior (75-73-78=226, +10)
• T63rd – Justin Chong, junior (74-73-80=227, +11) *
• T69th – J.J. Gresco, sophomore (78-76-74=228, +12)
• 76th – Chris Ebster, freshman (77-77-76=230, +14) *
• 80th – Marco Trstenjak, freshman (85-76-79=240, +24) *

* Competed as an individual

TOP TEAMS: 
1. Oklahoma (287-281-282=850, -14)
2. Texas (295-277-279=851, -13)
3. Stanford (284-282-288=854, -10)
4. Texas Tech (288-284-284=856, -8)
5. California (288-286-283=857, -7)
6. Georgia Tech (283-282-295=860, -4)
T7. UNLV (288-286-289=863, -1)
T7. TCU (294-282-287=863, -1)

There were a total of 15 teams and 81 individuals competing.

REBEL NOTES:
• Jack Trent is the sixth Rebel to win the individual title at UNLV's home tournament and the first since 2012. The other Rebel champions at the event are Ed Fryatt (1993), Ted Oh (1995), Ryan Moore (2003), Matt Kinsinger (2006) and Blake Biddle (2012).
• UNLV is the three-time defending Mountain West champions.
• Last year's team also finished third at the NCAA Regional in Columbus, Ohio, and placed in the top 20 at the NCAA Championship.
• Trent earned the Mountain West Freshman of the Year award last season, while Harry Hall and Trent were both recognized as All-MW performers.
• Hall was named a Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar in July.
• UNLV has played in a NCAA-record 30 straight regionals.
• This year marks head coach Dwaine Knight's 32nd season leading the Rebel program.

NEXT FOR THE REBELS: UNLV's next action will be Friday-Saturday, March 8-9, at the Jackrabbit Invitational, which is hosted by South Dakota State and played at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada. The Rebels will not play in the event as a team, but will enter a number of individual players.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Justin Chong: 5' 9"; Junior; 2L-RS

Chris Ebster: 5' 11"; Freshman; RS

J.J. Gresco: 6' 2"; Sophomore; 1L

Harry Hall: 6' 3"; Senior; 3L

Justin Kim: 5' 10"; Junior; 2L

Jack Trent: 6' 3"; Sophomore; 1L

David Rauch: 6' 2"; Freshman; HS

Marco Trstenjak: 6' 0"; Freshman; HS

Players Mentioned

Justin Chong
: 5' 9"; Junior; 2L-RS

Chris Ebster
: 5' 11"; Freshman; RS

J.J. Gresco
: 6' 2"; Sophomore; 1L

Harry Hall
: 6' 3"; Senior; 3L

Justin Kim
: 5' 10"; Junior; 2L

Jack Trent
: 6' 3"; Sophomore; 1L

David Rauch
: 6' 2"; Freshman; HS

Marco Trstenjak
: 6' 0"; Freshman; HS