PALM CITY, Fla. – Though the #9 Pepperdine men's golf team had a strong start at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational on Monday, the Waves would finish tied for 11^th after a two-round score of 572 (284-288).  Sam Choi led the Waves with a 3-under 68 to finish tied for 15^th after the opening rounds. 

The team is tied alongside Wake Forest and Duke after shooting four over par at the par-71, 6,943-yard Floridian Golf Club.  Pepperdine is one-away from Northwestern and three from Georgia Southern.  Texas Tech is in the lead after shooting 18-under after two rounds.

PLAYER SCORES

• Graduate Sam Choi (Anaheim, Calif./New Mexico) is tied for 15^th, after moving up 19 spots between the first and second rounds.  He 3-under 139 (71-68) and led the team with 10 birdies so far.  He had six birdies in the second round alone, including five on the back nine.
• Graduate Derek Hitchner (Minneapolis, Minn./The Blake School) is tied for 31^st after a two-round total of 143 (72-71).  He has posted seven birdies, including four in the first round.
• Graduate Luke Gifford (Boca Raton, Fla./South Florida) is tied for 40^th after shooting 2-over 144 (72-72).  He had four birdies in his first eight holes played today, and seven overall.
• Senior William Mouw (Chino, Calif./Ontario Christian HS) is tied for 52^nd with a two-round total of 146 (69-77).  He shot 2-under in the first round with five birdies and was tied for 14^th after the round, though he finished 4-over.
• Graduate Roberto Nieves (Miami, Fla./Delaware) is in 87^th after a two-round total of 159 (76-83).  He had five birdies.

THE NUMBERS
Team Scores: 1. Texas Tech 550; 2. North Carolina 553; 3. Florida State 558; 4. Arizona State 559; T5. Texas 563; T5. Ohio State 563; 7. Texas A&M 564; 8. Houston 568; 9. Georgia Southern 569; 10. Northwestern 571; T11. Pepperdine 572; T11. Wake Forest 572; T11. Duke 572; 14. Marquette 577; 15. Minnesota 584; 16. Lamar 595.

Top Individuals: 1. Ludvig Aberg (Texas Tech) 132; T2. Ben Carr (Georgia Southern) 135; T2. David Ford (UNC) 135; T2. Wolfgang Glawe (Houston) 135; T5. Tyran Snyders (Texas Tech) 136; T5. Maxwell Moldovan (Ohio State) 136; T5. Austin Greaser (UNC) 136; T8. Calum Scott (Texas Tech) 137; T8. William Love (Duke) 137.

UP NEXT
The third and final round of the tournament will be played tomorrow, March 28.  The Waves will be paired with Marquette, Minnesota and Lamar and will begin on holes 13-17 at 5:30 a.m. PT.