Men's Golf Qualifies for Match Play at NCAA Championships

Monday, May 30

Scottsdale, Ariz.

Pepperdine University

NCAA Championships

William Mouw

Photo by: Roger Horne

Men's Golf Qualifies for Match Play at NCAA Championships

5/30/2022 7:34:00 PM | Men's Golf

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By: by Athletic Communications

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona – The Pepperdine men's golf team's quest to repeat as national champions will continue as the Waves qualified for match play after a sixth-place finish in stroke play at the NCAA Championships on Monday. William Mouw tied for fifth place in the individual race.

The Waves, ranked sixth by Golfstat and seeded sixth in the tournament, finished in sixth place after shooting a four-day total of 1,146 (294-282-277-293) at the par-70 Raptor Course at Grayhawk Golf Club. They finished 13 shots clear of ninth place.

Pepperdine will meet North Carolina in the quarterfinals on Tuesday morning. The two schools know each other well, having been paired together for all four rounds of stroke play.

The Waves are making their second straight and second-ever appearance in NCAA match play. Pepperdine has posted a 6-1 record in match play the last two seasons – winning the 2021 NCAA finals and the 2020 East Lake Cup, and tying for third place at the 2021 East Lake Cup.

The two-time national champions have advanced to the NCAA finals for the third consecutive time – a first in program history – and for the 12th time overall.

PLAYER SCORES

Junior William Mouw (Chino, Calif./Ontario Christian HS) tied the fourth-best finish by a Pepperdine individual at the NCAA Championships and had the best result by a Wave since 2005. He was remarkably consistent, finishing with a 1-over 281 (71-70-70-70) with three consecutive even-pars. He finished just one shot away from making the playoff for the individual championship. Mouw had back-to-back birdies on 4 and 5, and added his final one on 17. He had a team-high 12 birdies for the tournament.
Senior Derek Hitchner (Minneapolis, Minn./The Blake School) tied for 25th at 288 (76-67-71-74). He is the only Wave in the lineup making his NCAA Championships debut.
Senior Joe Highsmith (Lakewood, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) tied for 43rd at 292 (71-76-70-75). He posted birdies on 3 and 10 today. He wrapped up a 10th-place finish in the PGA Tour University standings.
Junior Dylan Menante (Carlsbad, Calif./Sage Creek HS) also tied for 43rd at 292 (76-73-66-77).
Senior Joey Vrzich (El Cajon, Calif./Christian HS/Nevada) tied for 52nd at 294 (76-72-72-74). He had birdies on 4, 5 and 11 on Monday.

QUOTABLE

Pepperdine Coach Michael Beard said: "I honestly think that match play is where our competitiveness really comes out. When you put them mano a mano, it fires them up. Our guys have been really strong in match play. The experience of having done well in match play is huge. I don't think there's another team that can say they've done what we've done. Whatever emotions you feel out there, our guys have experienced that and come out on top. We have a lot of confidence ... William is so tough. For him to play the way he has, you look at his entire spring, and he's had five top 10s in the last six tournaments. To finish close to the lead in the national championship, in these conditions, the way the course is set up, for him to be there every day and come out after four rounds being so close to winning, I'm so happy for him and so proud of him, he's done such a good job."

UP NEXT

The Waves and Tar Heels will square off in their quarterfinal beginning at 6:20 a.m. on Tuesday on the 10th tee. The winner will move on to face either Oklahoma or host Arizona State in the semifinals, which are scheduled to begin at 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday.

In the other half of the bracket, Vanderbilt faces Texas Tech and Texas meets Oklahoma State.

The top eight ranked teams in the country all advanced to match play.

Golf Channel will have live coverage of the quarterfinals from 9-11:30 a.m. and of the semifinals from 2-6 p.m.

THE NUMBERS

Team Scores (8 advancing teams): T1. Vanderbilt 1,134; T1. Oklahoma 1,134; T1. North Carolina 1,134; 4. Texas 1,137; 5. Oklahoma State 1,141; 6. Pepperdine 1,146; 7. Arizona State 1,148; 8. Texas Tech 1,153.

Team Scores (7 non-advancing teams): 9. Arkansas 1,159; T10. Auburn 1,160; T10. Florida 1,160; T12. Georgia 1,171; T12. Georgia Tech 1,171; 14. Ole Miss 1,177; 15. Oregon 1,182.

Top Individuals: 1. Gordon Sargent (Vanderbilt) 280*; T2. Parker Coody (Texas) 280; T2. Ryan Burnett (North Carolina) 280; T2. Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra (Oklahoma State) 280; T5. William Mouw (Pepperdine) 281; T5. Cameron Sisk (Arizona State) 281; T5. David Ford (North Carolina) 281; T5. Chris Gotterup (Oklahoma) 281.

* won in a playoff