Pereira in Top 25 Following Day One at Gopher Invitational

Saturday, September 10

Independence, Minn.

All Day

University of Washington

Gopher Invitational

Pereira in Top 25 Following Day One at Gopher Invitational

September 10, 2016 | Men's Golf

INDEPENDENCE, Minn. – University of Washington senior standout Corey Pereira led the Huskies over the first two rounds of the Gopher Invitational as he currently sits tied for 24^th heading into Sunday's final 18 at the Windsong Farm Golf Club. The Huskies as a team are 13^th after firing a 25-over 593 during Saturday's windy 36 holes.

The Huskies opened the day with a 14-over 298 before improving in the second round with an 11-over 295. In a field that features three teams ranked in GolfWeek's preseason top 25, Washington is just seven strokes out of the top 10.

"Honestly, we just didn't play well today and if you don't play well on a tough golf course, bad things can happen," said first-year head coach Alan Murray. "I think we learned some valuable lessons out there today but we have to dust ourselves off and get ready for tomorrow. This is a phenomenal golf course and even though it was very windy, it played tough and fair. We can't fault our team's effort and application today, we just have to get better."

Pereira, playing third for UW, was one of four Dawgs that posted better second rounds on the day as he opened with a 2-over 73 and followed with a 1-over 72 finish at 3-over 145, six strokes off of the individual lead (3-under 139). His two rounds featured stellar front nines, as he hit the turn at even par in the first round and was at 1-under in the second before the final nine holes. Pereira also carded seven birdies on the day.

"Corey played really well and actually played a lot better than his score it looked to me," said Murray. "He's obviously a high quality player and today was further evidence of that to me. He likely missed a few breaks and didn't get the rub of the green that you need to play really well but his game is right there and I'm looking forward to seeing what he does tomorrow."

Senior Kevin Kwon sits two strokes behind Pereira at 5-over 147 following rounds of 3-over 74 and 2-over 73. Kwon, who earned the one spot following qualifying this week, had a tough start to the first round with blemishes on four of the first eight holes but he bounced back quickly with two birdies and an eagle over the next 10 closing out the round with the eagle on the par-5 18^th. He then carded three more birdies in round two to head into Sunday's final round tied for 34^th.

Playing in his first collegiate golf tournament, but not unexperienced to tough competition, freshman Sam Warkentin finished his two rounds with a 9-over 151 (75-76). Warkentin, the first three-time WJGA Overall State Champion had some bright spots on the day, opening round one with three birdies on the front nine. He went on to finish with five total and will start round three tied for 50^th.

"Sam played a lot of good golf today and probably learned a couple of harsh lessons that you do as a freshman," said Murray. "What I've seen from him already though, he's going to be a big time player going forward. It was a great experience for him out there and with freshmen, just having them get that repetition and rounds under their belt helps them improve that much faster."

Junior Jordan Lu also carded a 9-over 151 and is tied with teammate Warkentin at 50^th. Lu had the biggest improvement for the Dawgs between the rounds as he opened with a 6-over 77 but responded with a 3-over 74 in a round that helped him climb five spots on the leaderboard heading into Sunday's final 18. Senior Frank Garber rounded out the Husky contingent with a 10-over 152 (76-76) to sit tied for 56^th.

In the individual section of the tournament, sophomore Carl Yuan is tied for fourth as he carded a 2-under 142 on the par-72 Pioneer Creek Golf Course in Maple Plain, Minn. Yuan opened the day with a 1-over 73 but then turned in a 3-under 69, which tied the low round of the day on the individual side to climb five spots in to the fourth-place tie. Freshman Shamu Bodhidatta is tied for ninth at 1-over 145 (75-70) while newcomer Henry Lee is tied for 14^th at 3-over 147 (75-72).

The final round of the Gopher Invitational for the Huskies tees off Sunday morning at 6:30 a.m.