Texas beats Alabama for title

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LOS ANGELES -- Texas won its third NCAA men's golf championship Sunday, defeating Alabama when senior Dylan Frittelli drained a 20-foot birdie putt at Riviera Country Club.

With the match tied at two, Frittelli came to the 18th hole all square with Cory Whitsett. After Whitsett's birdie chip came up well short, the South African drained his birdie opportunity.

"I don't even know what happened," Frittelli said. "It was all a blur. I just wanted to make that putt. It was amazing."

Alabama took the first two matches. Hunter Hamrick defeated Julio Vegas 6 and 5, and Bobby Wyatt knocked in a 30-foot chip from behind the green to down Toni Hakula, 1 up.

Texas then won the next two matches. Jordan Spieth closed out fellow freshman Justin Thomas, 3 and 2. Cody Gribble defeated Scott Strohmeyer, 2 and 1, to improve to 3-0 in match play, leaving it up to Frittelli.

"It came down to the last hole with two great players," Texas coach John Fields said. "Dylan did something fantastic. We are so fortunate."

Texas also won NCAA championships in 1971 and '72, when former PGA Tour golfers and major championship winners Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite were on the team.

"This was a classic 1 vs. 2 matchup," Alabama coach Jay Seawell said. "You hate to lose, but Texas did what they needed to do, and they are a great team."

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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