Men's Golf Starts Cle Elum Regional in Third Place

Monday, May 17

Cle Elum, Wash.

Pepperdine University

NCAA Cle Elum Regional

Joe Highsmith

Photo by: Ricky Davis

5/17/2021 4:11:00 PM | Men's Golf

Round 1 Results

By: by Athletic Communications

CLE ELUM, Washington – Led by Joe Highsmith's 3-under 68, the Pepperdine men's golf team is on the right side of the cut line after Monday's first round at the NCAA Cle Elum Regional, as the Waves stand in third place.

Pepperdine shot an opening 5-under 279 at the par-71 Tumble Creek Golf Club. The Waves need to finish in the top five to advance to the NCAA Championships and they're currently three strokes ahead of sixth place. The top five teams are within two shots of each other.

Pepperdine, the 1997 NCAA champions, is attempting to qualify for the NCAA finals for the 11th time in program history. The Waves are the #2 seed at this regional.

PLAYER SCORES

Junior Joe Highsmith (Lakewood, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) is tied for fourth place after his opening 3-under. He had a total of six birdies on the day, three on the front nine and three on the back nine.
Senior Joey Vrzich (El Cajon, Calif./Christian HS/Nevada) is tied for 12th after a 2-under 69. He had five birdies in the first round. He had back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15 before finishing with three straight pars.
Senior Clay Feagler (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Dana Hills HS) is tied for 15th after a 1-under 70. He had five birdies in all. He was 2-over at the turn but then posted three consecutive birdies on 13, 14 and 15.
Sophomore William Mouw (Chino, Calif./Ontario Christian HS) is tied for 32nd after a 72. He had 16 pars on the day plus one birdie.
Sophomore Dylan Menante (Carlsbad, Calif./Sage Creek HS) is tied for 63rd after a 76. He had three birdies on Monday.

UP NEXT

For Tuesday's second round, the Waves will be paired with Wake Forest and San Francisco and they'll start on the first tee at 8 a.m.

THE NUMBERS

Team Scores: T1. Wake Forest 278; T1. San Francisco 278; 3. Pepperdine 279; T4. East Tennessee State 280; T4. Washington 280; 6. Oregon 282; 7. Utah 283; T8. Florida 284; T8. Denver 284; 10. Long Beach State 288; 11. Iowa 289; 12. Arizona 291; 13. Sacramento State 292; 14. Mississippi State 299.

Top Individuals: T1. Petr Hruby (Washington) 66; T1. Christoffer Palsson (San Francisco) 66; 3. Alex Fitzpatrick (Wake Forest) 67; T4. eight players tied at 68, including Joe Highsmith (Pepperdine).