Pepperdine University
NCAA Franklin Regional
Men's Golf Concludes Season at NCAA Franklin Regional
5/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
FRANKLIN, Tenn. " Frederick Wedel wrapped up a tremendous four-year career for the Pepperdine men's golf team by shooting a 6-under 66 to conclude play at the NCAA Franklin Regional on Wednesday. The Waves had their season end with a ninth-place finish.
The Waves ended on a strong note, firing a 7-under 281 to finish with a three-day total of a 1-under 863 (296-286-281) at the par-72 Vanderbilt Legends Club. Only the top five teams advanced to the NCAA Championships and Pepperdine was 21 strokes behind the cut line.
Pepperdine added to its school-record total of tournaments finishing at or below par, accomplishing that feat for the ninth time this season. Before this school year, the record had been five times in a season.
Wedel (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands HS) and Sahith Theegala (Chino Hills, Calif./Diamond Bar HS) both tied for 18th place to lead the Waves.
Wedel overcame a tough start to his tournament to finish with a 5-under 211 (75-70-66). He had a remarkable stretch of eight holes midway through his round today, accumulating five birdies and an eagle. He would post one more birdie later to finish with six on the day. It was his 19th below-par round of the season (third in Pepperdine single-season history).
Wedel, a senior and a two-time All-WCC first team selection, will leave his name prominently in the Pepperdine record book. For his career, he ranks fourth all-time in scoring average (72.69), fourth in below-par rounds (46), tied for eighth in top 10 finishes (14), eighth in top 20 finishes (21) and ninth in rounds played (140).
Theegala concluded arguably the best freshman season in school history. He was below par all three rounds and finished with a 5-under 211 (70-70-71). He had five birdies on the day. It's the third-best showing by a Pepperdine freshman at an NCAA Regional.
Theegala, the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year, shattered the school's freshman record for scoring average by two full strokes this season, finishing at 71.06 to beat Andrew Putnam's mark of 73.07 set in 2007-08. Theegala also set a freshman record with 17 below-par rounds (passing current head coach Michael Beard's previous mark of 10).
On the school's single-season scoring list, Wedel (71.00) and Theegala (71.06) now rank tied for second and fourth on that chart, respectively.
Freshman Roy Cootes (Rolling Hills, Calif./Palos Verdes HS) also had a good day, shooting a 2-under 70 that moved him up to a tie for 56th place with a total of 220 (76-74-70). His round included four birdies. Cootes' season scoring average of 72.54 will put him at #2 on the Waves' freshman list behind Theegala.
Junior Cody McManus (Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista HS) tied for 61st at 221 (75-72-74) and junior Robbie Geibel (Pembroke Pines, Fla./American Heritage HS/Louisville) tied for 72nd at 232 (80-76-76).
The Waves were making their 21st NCAA Regional appearance in the last 25 years.
Team Standings: 1. Texas 268-271-280=819; 2. Vanderbilt 285-277-268=830; T3. Houston 293-274-272=839; T3. LSU 288-272-279=839; 5. Virginia 285-271-286=842; 6. Washington 283-280-280=843; 7. Kennesaw State 283-279-285=847; 8. East Carolina 279-289-281=849; 9. Pepperdine 296-286-281=863; 10. Michigan 303-284-285=872; 11. Troy 305-283-288=876; 12. Georgetown 295-289-293=877; 13. UT-Martin 293-294-291=878.
Individual Leaders: 1. Michael Perras (Houston) 65-69-66=200; T2. Doug Ghim (Texas) 64-69-69=202; T2. Ryan Cole (James Madison) 69-64-69=202; 4. Theo Humphrey (Vanderbilt) 70-66-69=205; 5. Carl Yuan (Washington) 65-69-72=206.
Pepperdine Scores: T18. Frederick Wedel 75-70-66=211; T18. Sahith Theegala 70-70-71=211; T56. Roy Cootes 76-74-70=220; T61. Cody McManus 75-72-74=221; T72. Robbie Geibel 80-76-76=232.
