Williams, Huskies Battle Tough Conditions To Lead In San Diego

Monday, February 13

San Diego CC -- Chula Vista, Calif.

All Day

University of Washington

San Diego Intercollegiate

Williams, Huskies Battle Tough Conditions To Lead In San Diego

February 13, 2012 | Men's Golf

By: Washington Athletics

Feb. 13, 2012

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- Washington went into the clubhouse with a three stroke advantage and junior Chris Williams is the leader among individuals before darkness forced the 15 teams playing in the San Diego Intercollegiate off the golf course. The Husky quintet was a combined 8-over par with several holes remaining in the second round when play was halted at the par-72, 7,033-yard San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista, Calif.

The competitors battled wind, rain and fast greens all day, but Washington - rated 5th by Golfstat.com - was able to handle the elements better than all the other teams. UW shot 4-under 284 in the morning's first round to be the only team under par and hold a four stroke lead after the first 18 holes.

The Huskies, like the rest of the field, struggled in the second round. They were +12 for the round to fall to +8 when play was halted. Washington leads No. 9 USC, who is +11, and San Diego is third at +17.

"It was a good day, we played really well," Husky Head Coach Matt Thurmond said via phone from San Diego. "Our morning round was as good as we have had all year. The conditions were really demanding and for us to shoot par or better on that course is really outstanding.

"We weren't quite as sharp in the afternoon, but it was tougher out there. In the end, we hung in and are in good shape going into tomorrow."

Williams leads the 82 person field at -2 with just one hole remaining in his second round. He is one of two golfers that entered the clubhouse under par.

1	Washington	284	+12	+8
1	Chris Williams (1)	70	E (17)	-2
6	Cheng-Tsung Pan (2)	71	+2 (16)	+1
T12	Trevor Simsby (3)	71	+5 (15)	+4
T19	Charlie Hughes (4)	72	+5 (14)	+5
T45	Cory McElyea (5)	75	+7 (16)	+10

The junior who is currently ranked No. 6 in the R&A World Amateur Rankings, shot a 2-under 70 to share the first round lead with USC's Martin Trainer. He finished Monday's second round strong with late back-to-back birdies before darkness set in.

"Chris didn't make a birdie in his first 10 holes and he really should have made a few more bogeys, but he scraped around and played really smart and steady. He made a few putts and got rolling with three-straight birdies."

Freshman Cheng-Tsung Pan is second among Huskies and was sixth when he was forced into the clubhouse. He started the morning slow and was +2 after six holes before battling back with three birdies over his final 12 holes to end the first round at -1. He was +2 through 16 holes of the second round.

Sophomore Trevor Simsby, like Pan, shot 1-under 71 in the morning. He had a team-best five birdies during the first 18 holes. Simsby was unable to keep the momentum going in the second round and was +5 after the first five holes. He was even par the rest of the way and remains +5 with three holes left to play.

Junior Charlie Hughes had a strong morning round and ended up even-par at 72. He got his round off to a quick start and was -3 through 11 holes, but three bogeys down the stretch pushed him back to even. He was +5 through 14 holes of the second round.

Sophomore Cory McElyea shot a 75 in the morning round and was +7 with two holes remaining.

The second round will be completed on Tuesday, starting at 8:30 a.m., followed by the third and final round.

Team Leader Board

Course:San Diego Country Club: 2012 Black Tees Par 72 - 7033 yards

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