University of Washington
NCAA Championships
Dawgs Tied For 15th At NCAA's, Playoff Likely
May 31, 2015 | Men's Golf
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BRADENTON, Fla. – The suspense continues for the Washington men's golf team after a third round of 7-over 295 at The Concession Golf Club. The round moved the Dawgs to 26-over for the week, which currently puts them in a tie for 15th as play was suspended Sunday night due to lightning.
“I thought it was our cleanest round of the tournament,” said head coach Matt Thurmond. “Guys were tough down the stretch, we just didn't make quite as many birdies as we have been.”
Six teams will complete their third round on Monday morning beginning at 7 a.m. local time with a playoff for 15th place if necessary immediately following. The most likely scenario appears to be the Dawgs tying SMU for 15th place. The Mustangs are also finished with their third round, having played in the morning as well. A playoff would begin in the first hole with all five players competing and each team keeping their best four scores. Another tie and the teams would move to the second hole and so on until an advancing team is decided.
“I am super excited about the possibility of a playoff,” said Thurmond. “It's a fun format with the guys playing with their teammates. It would be a lot of fun, I am fired up for it.”
The winner of a potential playoff would earn a spot in the top-15 teams that would then begin their fourth round with the top-eight teams after 72 holes advancing to match play.
The Dawgs spot in a potential playoff nearly did not happen, but a pair of clutch putts from Cheng-Tsung Pan appear they will be difference-makers. Pan made an eight footer for birdie on the 17th hole and then made a great up and down for par on 18, again converting from about eight feet.
“Those were clutch putts from Pan,” said Thurmond. “We needed every stroke.”
Pan finished his round at even par to stay at 2-under for the tournament. Pan will play a fourth round no matter the team outcome as he is currently tied for seventh overall and would advance as an individual. Bryson Dechambeau of SMU continues to lead at 7-under, while Paul Dunne of UAB is now second at 6-under.
Pan had a solid round of two birdies and two bogeys that could have been better, but the birdie putts were not falling until the crucial 17th hole.
“Pan said he putted well, they just didn't drop,” said Thurmond.
The Dawgs got a well-rounded effort from the team, particularly without an under-par score from Pan. Corey Pereria and Jonathan Sanders each shot 2-over 74, while Kevin Kwon came through with a 3-over 75 for the all-important fourth score.
Pereira made three birdies and five bogeys on the day to move to 4-over and tied for 36th overall. He took advantage of the par fives, playing those holes at 3-under, including a nice birdie on the seventh hole where a difficult pin placement gave the field fits.
“Corey has had a really solid, reliable week,” said Thurmond. “We still haven't seen his best golf of the tournament.”
Sanders made two birdies and two bogeys, but also double bogeyed the par-four eighth. He is now 9-over for the week and tied for 74th.
Kwon played his best round of the week that included two birdies, three bogeys and a double. He is now 21-over for the tournament and tied for 142nd. It was the lowest fourth score for the Huskies so far.
“Kwon's round was a big, big deal,” said Thurmond.
Frank Garber was the final Husky with a score of 8-over 80. He moved to 20-over for the week and tied for 139th place.
The Dawgs will now await the official word of a playoff and be ready should that occur. If Washington were to prevail in a playoff, the fourth round is now scheduled for an 11 a.m. local start.
“We are a ways away from the top-eight, but as long as we have a club in our hands, we aren't finished,” said Thurmond. “It will be an exciting opportunity because I still think we haven't played at our best this week.”
Players Mentioned
