FAIRFAX, California – The Pepperdine men's golf team picked up right where it left off from last year's Alister MacKenzie Invitational, posting some near-record scores to take a five-shot lead after Monday's first two rounds of the competition.
Pepperdine won this tournament last year and established team records for 18 holes (22-under), 36 holes (30-under) and 54 holes (52-under).
Playing two rounds today, the Waves recorded a score of a 29-under 539 (273-266) at the par-71 Meadow Club. That's the second-best 36-hole score in program history, while the 18-under in the afternoon round ties the second-best round in school history. They lead West Coast Conference rival Saint Mary's by five shots and host California by seven.
PLAYER SCORES
- Senior Sahith Theegala (Chino Hills, Calif./Diamond Bar HS) is in second place with a 12-under 130 (66-64). His 5-under first round included seven birdies. His 7-under 64 in the second round – which tied his career college best, also set at the MacKenzie in 2016 – had five birdies and two eagles. The 12-under ties the Waves' second-best individual score after 36 holes (also set by Theegala at the 2017 Southwestern Invitational). He's three strokes back in the individual race.
- Senior Joshua McCarthy (Danville, Calif./De La Salle HS) is tied for ninth place with a 7-under 135 (68-67). He had five birdies in his 3-under morning round and six birdies in his 4-under afternoon round.
- Freshman William Mouw (Chino, Calif./Ontario Christian HS) is tied for 14th with a 6-under 136 (69-67). He had five birdies during his 2-under first round. He had seven birdies during his 4-under second round, including a run of five holes in a row between 11 and 15.
- Sophomore Joe Highsmith (Lakewood, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) is tied for 21st with a 4-under 138 (70-68). He had four birdies in the morning, and seven birdies and an eagle during his 3-under afternoon round.
- Freshman Dylan Menante (Carlsbad, Calif./Sage Creek HS) is tied for 28th with a 3-under 139 (71-68). Five of his nine birdies on the day came during his 3-under second round.
- Playing as an individual, junior Joey Vrzich (El Cajon, Calif./Christian HS/Nevada) is tied for 32nd with a 2-under 140 (74-66). After posting three birdies in the morning, he bounced back with six birdies and an eagle during his 5-under afternoon round.
UP NEXT
The Waves will be paired with Saint Mary's, California and Boise State for Tuesday's third and final round. They'll start on the first tee at 8:55 a.m.
THE NUMBERS
Team Scores: 1. Pepperdine 539; 2. Saint Mary's 544; 3. California 546; 4. Boise State 549; 5. Long Beach State 550; 6. Chattanooga 551; T7. San Diego State 554; T7. San Jose State 554; 9. Santa Clara 556; 10. San Diego 557; 11. Nevada 565; 12. UC Santa Barbara 566; T13. Loyola Marymount 568; T13. California "B" 568; 15. Fresno State 570; 16. Hawai'i 591.
Top Individuals: 1. Sean Yu (San Jose State) 127;
2. Sahith Theegala (Pepperdine) 130; 3. Blake Hathcoat (Saint Mary's) 132; T4. Harrison Kingsley (San Diego) 133; T4. Matthew McCarty (Santa Clara) 133.
