Waves Improve in Second Round in Illinois

Saturday, September 18

Olympia Fields, Ill.

Pepperdine University

OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational

Joe Highsmith

Photo by: Roger Horne

9/18/2021 2:45:00 PM | Men's Golf

Results

By: by Athletic Communications

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Illinois – The Pepperdine men's golf team had a strong second round at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational on Saturday, moving up six spots and into sixth place.

The Waves have a two-day total of 574 (293-281) at the par-70 Olympia Fields Country Club. Their score of 1-over today was the fourth best of the second round.

Pepperdine's first tournament of the season features the top five teams that were in the Bushnell Golfweek coaches preseason poll and 10 from the top 25. The Waves were ranked #1 in the preseason poll (and are now #3).

PLAYER SCORES

Senior Derek Hitchner (Minneapolis, Minn./The Blake School) recorded a 1-under 69 that moved him up 13 spots and into a tie for ninth place at 141 (72-69). His round included four birdies, two on the front nine and two on the back nine.
Senior Joey Vrzich (El Cajon, Calif./Christian HS/Nevada) is tied for 27th at 144 (73-71). He had three birdies today.
Junior Dylan Menante (Carlsbad, Calif./Sage Creek HS) is also tied for 27th at 144 (73-71). He had four birdies, three coming in the final nine holes.
Senior Joe Highsmith (Lakewood, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) is tied for 31st at 145 (75-70). His even-par round included three birdies.
Junior William Mouw (Chino, Calif./Ontario Christian HS) is tied for 76th at 156 (77-79). He had one birdie on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Sunday's third and final round will see the Waves paired with Indiana and Alabama. They'll start on the first tee beginning at 8:15 a.m. CT.

THE NUMBERS

Team Scores: 1. North Carolina 561; 2. Arizona State 564; 3. Oklahoma State 568; 4. Indiana 571; 5. Alabama 573; 6. Pepperdine 575; T7. Stanford 575; T7. Texas 575; T9. Florida 576; T9. Baylor 576; 11. Illinois 578; 12. Purdue 579; 13. Florida State 585; 14. Arizona 589; 15. California 601.

Top Individuals: T1. David Puig (Arizona State) 136; T1. Brian Stark (Oklahoma State) 136; T1. David Ford (North Carolina) 136; 4. Austin Greaser (North Carolina) 137; 5. Cole Hammer (Texas) 139.