SCOTTSDALE, Arizona – The Pepperdine men's golf team is through to Monday's fourth and final round of stroke play at the NCAA Championships, though the Waves will need to be at their best tomorrow to move on to match play and a shot at the national championship.
Now in ninth place as the tournament was cut from 30 to 15 teams, the Waves have a three-day total of 854 (279-286-289) at the par-70 Raptor Course at Grayhawk Golf Club. They need to finish in the top eight after Monday to advance to match play for the first time in program history. They began Sunday in fourth place but slipped a bit after shooting 9-over.
The Waves will begin Monday just one stroke behind three teams tied for sixth place (Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and North Carolina). Two more teams (Clemson and Sam Houston State) are close behind Pepperdine.
Pepperdine, the 1997 national champion, is competing at the NCAA finals for the 11th time in program history, and for the third time in the last four tournaments.
PLAYER SCORES
- Senior Joey Vrzich (El Cajon, Calif./Christian HS/Nevada) is tied for 16th place with a 1-over 211 (69-69-73). He had five birdies during his round, including back-to-back on 13 and 14, and then three more on holes 2, 4 and 6.
- Sophomore William Mouw (Chino, Calif./Ontario Christian HS) is tied for 22nd at 213 (68-74-71). His 1-over was the Waves' best score of the day. He had four birdies, three coming in his final seven holes.
- Sophomore Dylan Menante (Carlsbad, Calif./Sage Creek HS) is tied for 41st at 216 (70-74-72). He posted three birdies on Sunday, two of which came in the final six holes.
- Senior Clay Feagler (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Dana Hills HS) is also tied for 41st at 216 (72-71-73). He recorded two birdies today. Feagler played in his 163rd career round today, passing head coach Michael Beard for the most in Pepperdine history.
- Junior Joe Highsmith (Lakewood, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) came in as a second-round substitute and shot 72-78 the past two days. He had one birdie in the third round.
QUOTABLE
Pepperdine Coach
Michael Beard said: "We struggled. It was a tough day for us. But we're still in the top 15 so we'll have a shot at it tomorrow. We just got off to a bad start. The guys rallied a little bit there at the end, so that was nice. It took a while for us to get some birdies going. We were just a little off, had some bogeys early, our front nine was frustrating. We've got to bring it tomorrow. It's going to be a battle, that's for sure. We've got to play well. They have it in them, they're great players and they've done it all year. I know the fire will be lit for them."
UP NEXT
On Monday, Pepperdine will start on the 10th tee beginning at 11:50 a.m. There will be live Golf Channel coverage from 2-6 p.m.
THE NUMBERS
Team Scores (top 15 advance): 1. Oklahoma State 828; 2. Oklahoma 841; 3. Arizona State 842; 4. Illinois 844; 5. Florida State 849; T6. Vanderbilt 853; T6. Wake Forest 853; T6. North Carolina 853;
9. Pepperdine 854; 10. Clemson 856; 11. Sam Houston State 858; 12. Louisville 864; T13. Arkansas 868; T13. Texas Tech 868.
Team Scores (playoff for 15th spot on Monday morning): T15. Georgia Tech 872; T15. TCU 872.
Team Scores (bottom 15 cut): T17. Tennessee 873; T17. SMU 873; T17. Georgia 873; 20. North Carolina State 876; 21. Liberty 879; 22. Florida 880; 23. Oregon State 882; 24. UAB 885; T25. Texas 886; T25. San Diego State 886; 27. San Diego 887; 28. East Tennessee State 893; 29. San Francisco 896; 30. Little Rock 905.
Top Individuals: 1. Bo Jin (Oklahoma State) 201; 2. Turk Pettit (Clemson) 203; T3. Parker Gilliam (Wake Forest) 205; T3. Quade Cummins (Oklahoma) 205; T5. Michael Feagles (Illinois) 206; T5. Jonathan Brightwell (Oklahoma) 206; T5. Ryggs Johnston (Arizona State) 206.
