thebattalion ● monday,
june 1, 2009
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2009 student media
Dan Miller —University of Toledo (Ohio)
Texas A&M men’s golf team members Andrea Pavan, Conrad Shindler, Matt Van Zandt, John Hurley and Bronson Burgoon huddle around the national championship trophy Saturday in Toledo, Ohio.
National champs! Men’s golf brings home first national team title since 1987 By Brett Sebastian | The Battalion
T
he Texas A&M men’s golf team completed its run to the national championship in dramatic fashion Saturday at Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio. Senior Bronson Burgoon, A&M’s No. 1 player, had lost four straight holes in match play to Arkansas’ Andrew Landry to make the final hole all square. Landry hit his drive down the middle of the par 4 and Burgoon hit the right rough. Landry’s second shot hit the edge of the green and Burgoon’s almost went in on an ace before finishing inches from the hole. Landry pulled his putt to the right in a shot that would have forced sudden death overtime. Burgoon then completed the weekend by scoring a birdie to win the final hole and give the Aggies their first national title in golf. “After it started rolling I was like please go in,” Bur-
goon said. “I was struggling the last four holes. I put more pressure on myself than I should have. The last hole something happened for me and seemed to click.” The championship is A&M’s first team title since 1987, when softball took home the crown. “A lot goes through my mind,” said Head Coach JT Higgins. “It’s been a long road. When we started here eight years ago we were a long way from being national champs. It was a long process to get great players like Bronson, John, Andrea, Conrad and Matt. Just putting together a team that has a chance to compete. I was really just happy for the kids. I love them, they’re like my own.” A&M’s No. 2 player, junior Andrea Pavan, downed David Lingmerth 7 and 6 while No. 3 sophomore John Hurley defeated Ethan Tracy 6 and 4. Combined with
Oct. 26, 1989 — May 14, 2009 Serena Swanland
Student dies in car accident Friends remember sophomore as kind, adventurous Angel Hadnott The Battalion Serena Swanland, 19-yearold sophomore chemical engineering major, was killed in a vehicle collision May 14. While traveling southbound on U.S. 190 near Hearne, Swanland lost control and skidded into oncoming traffic, according to the Department of Public Safety. Swanland was not wearing her seatbelt, according to the DPS. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Swanland had aspirations of becoming a doctor, but was also exploring other career opportunities, friends said. Swanland worked as a photographer for The Battalion from October 2007 to April 2008. She loved taking pictures and was excited about working for The Battalion, said friend
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Jace Taylor. “Serena loved candid photos. If you weren’t ready for a Facebook photo, and she took one, ‘oh well,’” Taylor said. “She was so happy when she found a job on campus doing what she loved.” Swanland served as a Fish Camp counselor, and participated in Sophomores Advancing in Leadership, or SAIL. She was a licensed scuba diver, and eager for adventure, said friend Anna Lewis. Swanland attended Kadena High School in Japan. She participated in tennis tournaments there and was one of 175 people to graduate from Kadena High School. “She loved sports and working out,” said junior agricultural leadership and development See Swanland on page 4
Burgoon they accounted for three Aggie wins. Arkansas Razorbacks Jason Cuthbertson and Jaime Marshall defeated senior Matt Van Zandt and sophomore Conrad Shindler respectively for their two wins. With the Aggies and Razorbacks tied 2-2, it seemed A&M was poised to cruise to a title; Burgoon was 4-up through 13 holes. Then Landry began playing nearly perfect golf while Burgoon could only find trouble. “I’m just really pumped up how it came down to the final hole,” Landry said. “I just knew I had to dig down a little bit to come back. I felt I could get this whole match back to square and I did. He just hit a great shot and there is nothing I can do about that.” Though Burgoon hit a bunker and bogeyed on the See Golf on page 6
May 4, 1987 — May 23, 2009 Jon Urbanosky
Serena Swanland
Jon Urbanosky
Serena was involved in Fish Camp, SAIL (Sophomores Advancing in Leadership) and worked for The Battalion as a photographer. She graduated from high school in Japan and attended Texas A&M as a chemical engineering major. Friends remember her as kind, patient and outgoing.
Jon was a second platoon leader in the Corps of Cadets, B-Company, and was trumpeter in the Aggie Band. He also played intramural sports within the Corps. He graduated from Somerville High School and attended A&M as an agricultural leadership and development major. Friends remember John for his generosity and determination.
Go to
Go to
thebatt.com
thebatt.com
to view a slideshow of photos by Serena.
to view more photos of Jon.
Crash kills Corps member Aggie Band trumpeter selfless, dependable, friends say Meagan O’Toole-Pitts The Battalion Class of 2009 Aggie Band trumpeter Jonathan “Jon” Louis Urbanosky was killed May 23 in a car accident on County Road 162, near Private Road 57. Urbanosky lost control of the vehicle after the front left tire slipped into a ditch, said Trooper Jason Adams. He was not wearing a seatbelt. Alcohol has not been ruled out as a factor in the accident. Urbanosky was a member of the Corps of Cadets, B-Company, and entering his final semester of Agricultural Leadership and Development. “He accomplished so much during his short time here,” said Urbanosky’s cousin Mary Dubois. “He made everyone in the family very proud with all of his accomplishments.” He had played the trumpet
since grade school, said Urbanosky’s cousin Keith Howe, Class of 2005, and excelled at it. “That was just the type of person Jonathan was; when he started something he may not have been the best but with time he sure would be,” said Howe. “He would work harder then anybody else I know.” He was a much-revered trumpeter in Aggieland, said Howe. “Locally, a lot of people knew him because for memorial day and other events he would go to the ceremonies,” said Howe. “And, he would play taps for the fallen soldiers from our area; he did that quite often.” In addition to his musical inclination, Urbanosky had a knack for all athletics, said See Urbanosky on page 4
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