Texas A&M aims to prove golf title no 'fluke'

Just as the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Saints are champions until somebody else wins new trophies, Texas A&M is the reigning NCAA golf champion.

The Aggies defeated Arkansas 3 and 2 in the finals of the 2009 tournament at Inverness.

They'll be back at the national event to defend their crown, and they'll be arriving with an attitude.

"A lot of people give us grief and say that it was a fluke and we weren't deserving," A&M junior Conrad Shindler said. "We don't take that lightly. We want to prove that last year was for real."

The Aggies will begin defense of their title next Tuesday at The Honors Course. All 30 teams will play three rounds of stroke play; then the top eight teams will advance to match play, just like last year.

"From the staff on down to the players, we feel that every time somebody brings up the format and says we got lucky that they're trying to take away from what we accomplished last year," coach J.T. Higgins. "I think we all understand that the goal isn't to be the top qualifier. We want to be standing there at the end."

They were there last year, posing for photos with the big wood trophy.

The Aggies were tied for seventh with Georgia after 54 holes. Texas A&M beat Arizona State in the quarterfinals and Michigan in the semifinals to set up the final match against Arkansas.

The last match was tied at 2 when Aggies senior Bronson Burgoon tucked a wedge to within inches of the pin on the final hole.

"We've got a lot more attention going into nationals this year than last," Higgins said. "People don't understand how tough it was to win that thing."

Andrea Pavan played the last two days without losing a hole to his opponent. He'll be back to prove that he earned his championship ring. And he's confident that he'll get a matching one soon after June 6.

What: NCAA men's golf championshipWhere: The Honors CourseWhen: June 1-6Who: 30 teams and six individualsTickets: $15 per day; $45 for all week

"We have a good team and we have a good possibility to win it again," Pavan said. "I believe our team is as strong as it was last year. We're not the underdog."

The Aggies advanced to the Honors by finishing second at the NCAA South Central Regional last week. They finished one stroke behind rival Texas Tech.

"We have the approach that we're not going there to defend," Shindler said. "We're going there to win another. And anything short of a win will be a disappointment.

"We're expecting to go there and play well, and that will lead to another one."

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