GOLF | Gaels Earn Runner-Up Honors In Las Vegas
2/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
HENDERSON, Nev. -- The Saint Mary's golf team overcame cold conditions and a poor second round by firing the final round's lowest team score en route to a second place overall finish at the LMU Invitational at Reflection Bay Golf Course.
The Gaels turned in rounds of 289-291-282 for a 54-hole total of 2-under par 862 to finish seven strokes ahead of third place UCSB. UNLV, the local favorite despite not hosting the tournament, ran away with the team title with all five of its players finishing among the top eight places in the 80-player field. The Rebels scored rounds of 274-277-283 for a 30-under par 834.
"I thought the team showed some positive signes this week, but, as expected, we weren't as sharp as we are capable of," said SMC head coach Scott Hardy. "This was a good event for us to kick off some rust from the winter. Hopefully, we have done that.
"Good attitudes and grinding until the end kept us in second place. I was proud to see that out of the guys."
UNLV's AJ McInerney earned medalist honors, carding rounds of 68-68-72 for an 8-under par 208.
Saint Mary's sophomore Perry Cohen equaled the tournament's low score with a 6-under par 66 in today's final round. The San Diego native rebounded after a slow finish yesterday to post scores of 73-76-66 to finish in a tie for eighth place with UNLV's Shintaro Ban. He registered seven birdies and just one bogey en route to tying the lowest competitive round of his collegiate career.
"Perry showed today that when he stays focused and starts to hole some putts, he can go low," said Hardy. "That was a great performance today. We neede that kind of round from one of the guys and he delivered it for us. He held us up when our top two players weren't having their best days.
"That is why this team has a chance to be successful. Everyone can step up and contribute with special rounds."
After starting the tournament with a 2-over 74, SMC sophomore Connor Blick rebounded with consecutive rounds of 1-under 71 to finish tied for 10th at even par 216. Hunter Rappleye improved his score each round with scores of 74-73-71 to finished in a tie for 13th overall at 2-over par 218
Senior Jonathan De Los Reyes and sophomore Pavan Sagoo were among five golfers tied for 16th at 3-over par 219. Antioch native De Los Reyes carded scores of even par 72 in his first two rounds but was unable to overcome a triple bogey on the 455, par 4 sixth hole to shoot a 3-over 75 in today's final round. Sagoo, turned in scores 70-75-74 in his three rounds.
Playing as an individual sophomore Roman Aragon finished in a tie for 35th place. He turned in rounds of 71-80-74 for a 9-over par 225.
Playing in daytime temperatures that hovered in the low 40's, the field was unable to finish yesterday's second round before darkness fell late in the afternoon at the Lake Las Vegas course. The 14-team field returned to the course to finish the second round this morning and played the third, and final, round afterward.
Saint Mary's returns to action on Monday, Feb. 15 at The Prestige at PGA West on the Greg Norman Course at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif. Co-hosted by Stanford and UC Davis, the tournament features teams from Arizona State, Duke, East Tennessee State, Gonzaga, Iowa State, LSU, Pepperdine, San Diego State, USC, San Diego and Scotland's University of Stirling.
"We will get back to work tomorrow and address some of our short game struggles, off-line tee shots and scores over bogey," said Hardy. "I'm anxious to see if we can get better before we head to PGA West."
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