BREMERTON, Wash. – The #6 Pepperdine men's golf team began its hunt for another league title on Thursday and the Waves sit in second-place after the first round at the West Coast Conference Championships.

On a chilly day at the par-72 Olympic Course at Gold Mountain Golf Club, Pepperdine shot a 4-under 284, one stroke behind San Francisco who is in the lead after the opening round.  Three teams shot below par, including the Waves, Dons and BYU (-3), while PCH Cup rival LMU and Santa Clara both finished even par.

The Waves are attempting to win their fifth-consecutive WCC title and their league-best 23^rd overall. 

PLAYER SCORES

• Senior William Mouw (Chino, Calif./Ontario Christian HS) is in sole possession of second with a 4-under 68.  He put in five birdies, including three without a bogey through the first 11 holes.
• Graduate Sam Choi (Anaheim, Calif./New Mexico) is tied for eighth with a 1-under 71.  He rallied from a 3-over front nine to shoot a 4-under back nine with four birdies on the day.
• Graduate Derek Hitchner (Minneapolis, Minn./The Blake School) shot even par to tie for 14^th. 
• Graduate Luke Gifford (Boca Raton, Fla./South Florida) is tied for 19^th after a 1-over 73 performance.  He posted three birdies.
• Freshman Brady Siravo (Sacramento, Calif./Jesuit HS) marked five birdies in the opening round, while shooting 3-over to tie for 28^th.

THE NUMBERS
Team Scores: 1. San Francisco 283; 2. Pepperdine 284; 3. BYU 285; T4. LMU 288; T4. Santa Clara 6. San Diego 293; 7. Gonzaga 294; 8. Saint Mary's 298; 9. Pacific 299.

Top Individuals: 1. Jackson Rothwell (USF) 66; 2. William Mouw (Pepperdine) 68; T3. Zac Jones (BYU) 69; T3. Kelvin Si (San Diego) 69; T5. Riley Lewis (LMU) 70; T5. Lionardo Rigamonti (Pacific) 70; T5. Max Brenchley (BYU) 70.

UP NEXT
Tomorrow, the Waves will be paired with BYU and San Francisco, teeing off at the first hole beginning at 9:10 a.m.