BRYAN, Texas – Derek Hitchner shot a 5-under 67 to the help the Pepperdine men's golf team get off to a good start at the NCAA Bryan Regional on Monday, as the Waves are in second place.
More importantly, the top-seeded Waves will head into the second round nine shots better than sixth place. The top five teams qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Pepperdine posted an opening 9-under 279 at the par-72 Traditions Club. Only Arizona, which shot a 276, had a better day. Three Waves went below-par and the other two finished at even-par. The 9-under ties the Waves' third-best score ever at an NCAA Regional.
The NCAA Championships are set for May 27-June 1 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.
PLAYER SCORES
- Senior Derek Hitchner (Minneapolis, Minn./The Blake School) is in second place after his 5-under 67. The 5-under tied his best score of the season. He had a total of seven birdies on the day. After four pars, he ran off three straight birdies on 5, 6 and 7. He ran into his only trouble with bogeys on 9 and 10, but finished off with birdies on 11, 14, 15 and 17.
- Senior Joe Highsmith (Lakewood, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) is tied for seventh after a 3-under 69. He had six birdies on the day. Highsmith was at even-par after 12, but birdied 13, 14 and 17 on his way in.
- Junior William Mouw (Chino, Calif./Ontario Christian HS) is tied for 16th after a 1-under 71. He had six birdies on Monday, three on the front nine and three on the back nine.
- Senior Joey Vrzich (El Cajon, Calif./Christian HS/Nevada) is tied for 26th after an even-par 72. He was 3-over after two holes but played solidly the rest of the way, and posted four birdies.
- Junior Dylan Menante (Carlsbad, Calif./Sage Creek HS) is also tied for 26th after an even-par 72. He had three birdies on Monday.
UP NEXT
Arizona, Pepperdine and host Texas A&M will be paired together for round two. They'll start on the first tee beginning at 7:30 a.m. CT.
THE NUMBERS
Team Scores: 1. Arizona 276; 2. Pepperdine 279; 3. Texas A&M 280; 4. Georgia 281; 5. Oregon State 285; 6. SMU 288; 7. Kansas 289; T8. Colorado State 293; T8. Michigan State 293; 10. Tennessee 295; 11. Boise State 296; 12. Southeastern Louisiana 306; 13. Texas Southern 312.
Top Individuals: 1. Chase Sienkiewicz (Arizona) 65;
2. Derek Hitchner (Pepperdine) 67; T3. Sam Bennett (Texas A&M) 68; T3. Trent Phillips (Georgia) 68; T3. Christian Banke (Arizona) 68; T3. Mateo Fuenmayor (Oregon State) 68.
Gallery: (5-16-2022) Men's Golf NCAA Regional Round 1
