MILTON, Ga. - Washington shot 3-over par 283 in the second round of the NCAA Men's Golf Championship on Wednesday at Capital City Club and are tied for 13th with a two-day total of 564 (+4).
The Huskies have one more round of play to make up four strokes and jump several teams to enter the coveted top eight. Only the top-eight squads after 54 holes of play advance to match play, held Friday through Sunday.
Host Georgia Tech leads the field with a two-day score of 548 (-12). California trails them by one shot, while Texas is -10 and in third. Alabama (-9) is fourth, followed by Arkansas (-3) and Illinois (-3) and first-round leaders Arizona State (-2). Texas A&M clings to eighth-place at even-par 560.
Washington remains in contention for the top eight despite not playing its best golf. The Huskies teed off at 7:20 a.m. local time and came out sluggish. They started their round on the tougher back nine of the Crabapple Course and combined to shoot +6.
Washington bounced back in its second nine and was just +1, but afterwards the team and coach Matt Thurmond were left to contemplate many missed opportunities.
"It was just an absolute battle all day," Thurmond said. "It was not a good round for us, but it was not a terrible round and we're still very much in this thing.
"No matter what we shot today we are going to have to come out tomorrow and have a good round to get in the top eight, so nothing has changed there."
Charlie<!> Hughes shot a team-best 1-under 69 on Wednesday.
The Huskies were led by their two seniors on Wednesday. Charlie Hughes shot a team-best 1-under 69, while Ben Hogan Award winner Chris Williams came into the clubhouse after shooting even-par 70. Hughes was left to think about the strokes he left on the course after the round, but also kept his round of 69 in perspective.
"My bogeys were just stupid mistakes," Hughes said. "I got a little sloppy on a couple shots.
"But, overall I played really well and had a lot of chances for birdies and I converted some on tough holes. Overall I feel good, but I just have to clean it up a little bit tomorrow."
Hughes had double the amount of birdies - four - than the next Husky, including his classmate and best friend Williams. Williams had two on the day and got his first of the tournament on hole No. 2; his first under-par score in 29 holes.
"That's sad," a frustrated Williams said of needing almost 30 holes before recording a birdie.
"But hey, you've got to make one at some point."
Williams missed an eagle on his approach shot on that first birdie by six inches, typifying the way his first two days of the tournament have went.
"It's been very frustrating, but I haven't hit my driver very well," he explained. "I've been in the rough a lot and it's hard to get it close when you're hitting out of the rough all day."
Trevor Simsby and Jonathan Sanders each ended the day 2-over. The duo led the Huskies in Tuesday's first round, but had to settle for 72 on Wednesday.
On the leaderboard, Simsby leads Washington with a two day total of 140 (E). He sits tied for 37th.
Sanders is one stroke back of Simsby at 141 (+1) and is bunched with a group tied for 42nd.
Hughes and Williams share 58th with a total of 142 (+2).
Pan, who was medalist at the NCAA Regional, is tied for 113th at 146 (+6).
Washington will be among the last teams to tee off on Thursday and will be able to scoreboard watch during the round. They will tee off on No. 10 at 1:40 p.m. ET (10:40 a.m. PT) and will be paired with Florida State and TCU.
Team Leader Board
Course:Capital City Club: Crabapple Course Par 70 - 7319 yards
