TUCSON, Ariz. – The Pepperdine men's golf program played a pair of rounds on Friday in Arizona, beginning the NIT in ninth place with the final round coming up on Saturday.

As a team, the #9 Waves shot 571 at the par-72, 7,200-yard Omni Tucson National Resort's Catalina Course. In addition to the top-10 Waves, the 13-team field includes eight other ranked schools – including two in the top-10.

Last season, the Waves took third after a -28 showing at NIT. This is Pepperdine's second-ever appearance in this specific event.

PLAYER SCORES

• Senior William Mouw (Chino, Calif./Ontario Christian HS) is tied for 10^th at 140 (70-70). He had an eagle in the first round and seven birdies on the day.
• Graduate Derek Hitchner (Minneapolis, Minn./The Blake School) is also tied for 10^th at 140 (69-71). He amassed nine birdies in the two rounds on Friday.
• Graduate Sam Choi (Anaheim, Calif./New Mexico) is tied for 36^th at 144 (72-72). He had seven birdies on the day, posting birdies on back-to-back holes in both rounds one and two.
• Graduate Luke Gifford (Boca Raton, Fla./South Florida) is tied for 56^th at 147 (75-72). He birdied nine times on Friday.
• Graduate Roberto Nieves (Miami, Fla./Delaware) is tied for 79^th at 151 (76-75). He birdied twice on Friday, once in each round.
• Competing as an individual, freshman Brady Siravo (Sacramento, Calif./Jesuit HS) is tied for 56^th at 147 (74-73). He had five birdies in the first two rounds.

THE NUMBERS
Team Scores: 1. USC 557; 2. Arizona 561; 3. Arizona State 562; 4. Illinois 565; T5. Florida 567; T5. New Mexico 567; T7. Oklahoma 569; T7. Oklahoma State 569; T9. San Diego State 571; T9. Pepperdine 571; 11. Colorado State 577; 12. Wyoming 585; 13. San Diego 587.

Top Individuals: T1. Zach Pollo (Arizona) 135; T1. Matthew Troutman (Oklahoma) 135; 3. Jackson Rivera (USC) 136; T4. Krando Nishiba (USC) 137; T4. Preston Summerhays (Arizona State) 137; 6. Adrien Dumont de Chassart (Illinois) 138; T7. Davis Bryant (Colorado State) 139; T7. Bastien Amat (New Mexico) 139; T7. Carson Herron (New Mexico) 139; T10. William Mouw (Pepperdine) 140; T10. Ben Lorenz (Oklahoma) 140; T10. Derek Hitchner (Pepperdine) 140; T10. Ricky Castillo (Florida) 140.

UP NEXT
Pepperdine begins the third and final round on Saturday at 7:39 a.m. The Waves will be paired up with Colorado State and Wyoming.