PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Midway through Wednesday’s second round of the NCAA Championship, the University of Washington men’s golf team sat near the bottom of the 30 teams competing and could not catch any breaks on the course at the famed Riviera Country Club.
Then the eighth-seeded Huskies re-focused and rallied, finishing with a strong performance on the back nine and a 2-over-par 286 that boosted them into sixth place..
Their score tied host USC for low round of the day.
“We played great on the back nine,” Husky coach Matt Thurmond said after his team, with some key pars down the stretch and four birdies on No. 17, scored a 3-under over the final nine holes.
“When we were at about the 10th hole I looked at the scoring and we were in 28th place. … We were on the bottom.”
Washington’s two-round score of 582 leaves the Huskies 10 strokes behind tournament leader Alabama (572). Also ahead of UW are UCLA (576), Florida State (580) and Oklahoma and North Florida (both 581).
The five-golfer Husky team started its rally on No. 12 and 13.
“A big difference for us wasn’t on No. 10 and 11 where most people make birdies,” Thurmond said, “it was No. 12 and 13 where others were making bogeys while we were making pars and had a birdie.
“That was huge.”
After the round, Husky junior All-American Chris Williams said it was hard not to notice where his team stood throughout the day, but down the stretch Thurmond helped him re-focus.
“I looked a few times,” Williams said about glancing at the leaderboard throughout the day. “But every time I looked it was disappointing, so I stopped looking.
“Coach Thurmond told me on 15 to finish strong and that we’re hanging in there. So, I did what I could. I made some birdies and a par here and there. It was a good finish.”
Williams was able to shoot even-par 71 and remains 4-over for the tournament. He is tied for 37th among individuals.
Sophomore Trevor Simsby turned in the best scorecard of the day among Huskies. He shot 1-under 70, thanks to shooting a bogey-free, 3-under over the final 12 holes.
Charlie Hughes and Cheng-Tsung Pan are UW’s overall leaders. Each staand at 3-over 146 for the tournament and are tied for 25th in a field of 156 golfers.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
