Pepperdine University
Warrior Princeville Makai Invitational
Wedel Wins Warrior Princeville Makai Invitational
11/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
PRINCEVILLE, Kauai, Hawaii - Frederick Wedel of the Pepperdine men's golf team finished the fall season on a high note, winning the Warrior Princeville Makai Invitational in record-setting fashion. The junior topped the leaderboard for the first time in his collegiate career after firing a school-record 20-under 196 over three days to win by three strokes.
As a team, the Waves shot a 1-under 287 on Wednesday to bring their three-day score to a 12-under 852 (286-279-287). Pepperdine placed 10th overall at the par-72 Makai Golf Club.
Wedel (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands HS) finished the tournament with a 20-under 196 (64-63-69), setting a new 54-hole program record. Three-time All-American Andrew Putnam previously held the record after shooting a 15-under 201 at the Turtle Bay Intercollegiate in the fall of 2007.
Not only did Wedel set the record for his three-round total, he also inked his name in the record books in two other categories. Yesterday Wedel fired off a 9-under 63, tying Putnam's record-setting best round from the Turtle Bay Intercollegiate. Wedel's opening two-round score of 17-under 127 set a new 36 hole record by six strokes.
"I don't really pay close attention to the records, but it's really an honor," said Wedel. "My coaches and teammates instill a lot of confidence in me, and they are a big reason for (the records) this week."
"After his performance at the U.S. Amateur Championship, the expectations are there that he'll play at that level all the time," said head coach Michael Beard. "The first few tournaments of the season were a bit of a struggle for Fred, so I think it's great for him to end the fall with his first win. Not only did he shoot a great first round, he backed it up with an even better second round and was able to close it out today."
"I've been really close all fall. I know I'm capable, but haven't gotten anything out of my rounds" said Wedel, echoing Beard's statements, "It was great to have everything click all at once. I'm going to take a short break now that the fall season is over, but I'm going to keep working on my game and focus on the things that will help me be successful in the long run."
Georgia Tech's Ollie Schniederjans and San Diego's Grant Forrest rounded out the top three, both finishing three strokes behind Wedel.
Wedel carded five birdies today, bringing his tournament tally to 16 birdies and four eagles.
Senior Kevin DeHuff (Coto de Caza, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic HS) ended in a tie for 29th with a 3-under 213 (68-71-74). He had five birdies on the final day.
Redshirt sophomore Cody McManus (Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista HS) saved his best round of last, and moved up eight spots from yesterday into a tie for 55th (74-74-71=219). He shot three birdies and an eagle. Freshman Anthony Cecere (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif./St. Margaret's Episcopal School) tied for 67th at 224 (80-71-73), while sophomore Robin Kang (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./South Torrance HS) took 82nd at 233 (80-77-76)
The Waves' 54-hole team score of 12-under is just one stroke shy of breaking into the top-10 in the program record book.
Pepperdine reconvenes after the New Year with the Arizona Intercollegiate on January 26-27.
Team Standings: 1. Georgia Tech 272-273-264=809; 2. Arizona State 277-272-275=824; 3. Louisville 283-269-274=826; 4. Mississippi 273-279-281=833; 5. McNeese State 283-282-275=840; 6. San Diego 274-284-283=841; 7. East Tennessee State 284-277-282=843; 8. Idaho 281-280-287=848; 9. Cal Poly 280-282-288=850; 10. Pepperdine 286-279-287=852; 11. Boise State 293-290-281=864; 12. UC Santa Barbara 294-287-291=872; 13. Utah 297-287-292=876; 14. San Francisco 298-293-292=883; 15. Hawaii 292-292-300=884;
Top Individuals: 1. Frederick Wedel (Pepperdine) 64-63-69=196; T2. Ollie Schniederjans (Georgia Tech) 66-65-68=199; T2. Grant Forrest (San Diego) 65-66-68=199; 4. Anders Albertson (Georgia Tech) 68-67-65=200; 5. Jon Rahm (Arizona State) 67-67-67=201.
Other Pepperdine Scores: T29. Kevin DeHuff 68-71-74=213; T55. Cody McManus 74-74-71=219; T67. Anthony Cecere 80-71-73=224; 82. Robin Kang 80-77-76=233.
