Pepperdine University
Gopher Invitational
Waves Wrap Up Season-Opening Gopher Invitational
9/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
INDEPENDENCE, Minnesota " Sahith Theegala and Roy Cootes turned in top-20 finishes as the Pepperdine men's golf team wrapped up the season-opening Gopher Invitational on Sunday with a tie for 11th place.
The Waves finished the two-day tournament with a total of 886 (295-296-295) at the par-71 Windsong Farm Golf Club.
Theegala (Chino Hills, Calif./Diamond Bar HS), a sophomore who was last season's West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year, tied for 11th place at 216 (70-72-74). His final round included five birdies and he had a team-high 10 for the tournament.
Cootes (Rolling Hills, Calif./Palos Verdes HS), another sophomore, had the Waves' best round on Sunday as he moved up 18 spots in the rankings, all the way to a tie for 16th place at 217 (73-74-70). His 1-under round included four birdies, including one stretch where he had three over a five-hole span.
Two freshmen making their collegiate debuts were next for the Waves. Clay Feagler (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Dana Hills HS) tied for 44th at 226 (75-74-77) and Joshua McCarthy (Danville, Calif./De La Salle HS) tied for 54th at 228 (77-76-75). Finally, junior Anthony Cecere (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif./St. Margaret's Episcopal School) was 75th at 240 (83-81-76).
Minnesota also held a separate tournament for individuals at the par-72 Pioneer Creek Golf Course in Maple Plain, Minnesota. Senior Robbie Geibel (Pembroke Pines, Fla./American Heritage HS/Louisville) had a very strong showing and tied for fifth place with a 1-under 215 (72-70-73). He had 11 birdies for the tournament and five during his final round.
Freshman Hunter Epson (Long Beach, Calif./Wilson HS) was 20th at 227 (78-73-76) and senior Robin Kang (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./South Torrance HS) was 25th at 231 (78-76-77). Senior Cody McManus (Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista HS) withdrew from the first two rounds, then shot a 78 on Sunday.
Pepperdine's next tournament is the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate, hosted by New Mexico, on Sept. 23-24.
Team Standings: 1. Oklahoma 284-289-287=860; 2. San Diego State 289-282-294=865; 3. Michigan State 292-284-290=866; 4. Kent State 286-290-296=872; 5. New Mexico 291-290-293=874; 6. Arkansas 289-284-303=876; 7. Iowa 295-291-293=879; 8. California 303-277-301=881; T9. Charlotte 296-295-293=884; T9. Minnesota 298-291-295=884; T11. Pepperdine 295-296-295=886; T11. SMU 303-289-294=886; 13. Washington 298-295-296=889; 14. Minnesota (B) 301-302-307=910; 15. St. John's (MN) 309-294-314=917.
Individual Leaders: 1. Grant Hirschman (Oklahoma) 68-73-69=210; 2. Sam Weatherhead (Michigan State) 70-69-72=211; 3. Dylan Deogum (Michigan State) 72-70-70=212; 4. Raymond Knoll (Iowa) 72-68-73=213; T5. Collin Morikawa (California) 76-67-71=214; T5. Blaine Hale (Oklahoma) 70-71-73=214.
Pepperdine Scores: T11. Sahith Theegala 70-72-74=216; T16. Roy Cootes 73-74-70=217; T44. Clay Feagler 75-74-77=226; T54. Joshua McCarthy 77-76-75=228; 75. Anthony Cecere 83-81-76=240.
Players Mentioned
