May 21, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Thanks to an even-par 288, the Pepperdine men's golf team moved up to fifth place at the NCAA South Central Regional after Friday's second round and is in position to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
The Waves must finish in the top five out of the 14-team field, and they currently lead sixth-place Auburn and North Florida by four strokes. The third and final round is on Saturday at the par-72 Traditions Golf Club. Host and defending NCAA champion Texas A&M leads the tournament at 565, and is followed by Texas Tech (566), TCU (568) and Wichita State (573). Pepperdine has a 2-under 574 (286-288).
Junior Andrew Putnam (University Place, Wash./Life Christian Academy) fired a 3-under 69 on Friday, which moved him from a tie for 23rd up to a tie for 10th place with a 3-under 141 (72-69).
Sophomore Josh Anderson (Temecula, Calif./Murrieta Valley HS) also had a good day, shooting his second straight 1-under 71, keeping him in a tie for 12th place with a 2-under 142.
Seniors Shane Mason (San Diego, Calif./St. Augustine HS) and Carl Smith (Laguna Beach, Calif./Santa Margarita HS) are both tied for 31st place with 4-over 148s. Smith has gone 76-72 and Mason went 72-76. Junior Andrew Widmar (El Paso, Calif./Cathedral HS) fell to a tie for 55th place at 152 (71-81).
Pepperdine, which won the 1997 NCAA title, is looking for its eighth NCAA Championships appearance and first since 2006.
Team Results: 1. Texas A&M 277-288=565; 2. Texas Tech 282-284=566; 3. TCU 277-291=568; 4. Wichita State 283-290=573; 5. Pepperdine 286-288=574; T6. North Florida 280-298=578; T6. Auburn 288-290=578; T8. Baylor 291-289=580; T8. Tulsa 292-288=580; 10. Rice 299-284=583; 11. Georgia 294-291=585; 12. Georgetown 303-299=602; 13. North Carolina 301-311=612; 14. Jackson State 325-348=673.
Top Individuals: T1. Dustin Garza (Wichita State) 66-70=136; T1. Ignacio Elvira (Texas A&M) 66-70=136; T3. Russell Henley (Georgia) 71-67=138; T3. Johan de Beer (TCU) 71-67=138; T3. Daniel Jennevret (TCU) 66-72=138; T3. Kevin Phelan (North Florida) 66-72=138.
Pepperdine Scores: T10. Andrew Putnam 72-69=141; T12. Josh Anderson 71-71=142; T31. Shane Mason 72-76=148; T31. Carl Smith 76-72=148; T55. Andrew Widmar 71-81=152.
