Waves Lead at Rustic Collegiate Classic

Thursday, November 5

Moorpark, Calif.

Pepperdine University

Rustic Collegiate Classic

Joshua McCarthy

Photo by: Jeff Golden

11/5/2020 6:59:00 PM | Men's Golf

Round 2 Results Photo Gallery

By: by Athletic Communications

MOORPARK, California – Four Waves are in the top six and the Pepperdine men's golf team has taken a 13-shot lead after Thursday's first two rounds of the Rustic Collegiate Classic.

The Waves improved by 20 strokes from morning to afternoon and shot a 10-under 558 (289-269) at the par-71 Rustic Canyon Golf Course. After leading by just one at the conclusion of the first round, they now lead San Diego by 13 and BYU by 14 heading into the final round.

The Rustic Collegiate Classic is one of three West Coast Conference-only events being played this fall.

The Waves' 15-under in the second round tied the ninth-best 18-hole score in program history. Pepperdine will be going for its third team victory in four fall events on Friday (and the other was a second-place finish).

PLAYER SCORES

Senior Joshua McCarthy (Danville, Calif./De La Salle HS) is tied for second with a 3-under 139 (75-64). His 7-under score in the second round was the best by anyone on the day and tied his career-best college round. He had a run of five consecutive birdies between holes 8 and 12, and all nine birdies during his round came during a 13-hole stretch. McCarthy won the first WCC event of the fall, the Pasadera Collegiate Invitational.
Junior Joe Highsmith (Lakewood, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) is also tied for second with a 3-under 139 (72-67). Five of his eight birdies on the day came during his 4-under second round.
Senior Clay Feagler (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Dana Hills HS) is tied for fifth with a 1-under 141 (72-69). His -2 in the afternoon featured three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 9th hole.
Senior RJ Manke (Lakewood, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) is also tied for fifth with a 1-under 141 (71-70). Four of his seven birdies came in the first round.
Junior Derek Hitchner (Minneapolis, Minn./The Blake School) is tied for ninth at 143 (74-69). Four of his six birdies were recorded in the afternoon's round.
Playing as an individual, senior Austin Murphy (Morgan Hill, Calif./Bellarmine College Preparatory) is tied for 14th at 146 (74-72). He had a total of four birdies on the day. His second round included 16 pars.

UP NEXT

The final round of the fall season begins on Friday with tee times starting at 8:24 a.m. for the Waves' lineup. Pepperdine will be paired with San Diego and BYU in the final group.

THE NUMBERS

Team Scores: Pepperdine 558; 2. San Diego 571; 3. BYU 572; 4. Loyola Marymount 583; 5. Saint Mary's 590.

Top Individuals: 1. Andi Xu (San Diego) 138; T2. Joshua McCarthy (Pepperdine) 139; T2. Joe Highsmith (Pepperdine) 139; 4. Charlie Reiter (San Diego) 140; T5. Clay Feagler (Pepperdine) 141; T5. RJ Manke (Pepperdine) 141.