May 27, 2009
Toledo, OH - Thunderstorms moved through Northwest Ohio on Wednesday causing a four-and-a-half hour rain delay and leaving the second round of the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships incomplete. The second round will resume beginning at 6:45 a.m. on Thursday with the third round tentatively scheduled to commence at 10:00 a.m.
USD freshman Alex Ching (Honolulu, HI) fired a 5-under par 30 on the front nine of today's 2nd round and sits at 6-under par overall and currently in first place. He made par on holes 10 and 11 and will resume his 2nd round at approximately 6:45 a.m. on Thursday. He birdied three par fours (hole 1, 4 & 9) and eagled the par-5 8th hole.
"Today was a difficult day because we had to sit and wait at the golf course for more than 5 hours before we actually got to hit a shot," said head coach Tim Mickelson. "Waiting like that can be mentally draining and I think it cost us a couple of shots. We only got to play between 9 and 13 holes, but we got the tough stretch out of the way. If we play well in the morning, we will be in great position heading into the final round of stroke play. We aren't trying to win the stroke play, we just want to finish 8th or better. Alex's round so far is nothing short of amazing. The front nine holes of this course is extremely difficult and he played them in 5-under. I can't even believe someone could shoot that low in these conditions. He is playing extremely well."
Only 15 schools were able to complete their rounds and top seed Oklahoma State is leading the 30-team field with an even-par 568 (288-280). The Cowboys hold a five-stroke lead over first-round co-leader Georgia (288-285=573). Texas A&M is in third place at 574 (298-276) and carded the best round of the day with an eight-under par 276. USD currently sits tied for 11th in the team standings.
Georgia sophomore Russell Henley (71-67) and N.C. State sophomore Matt Hill (69-69) share the individual lead of players who have completed their rounds at four-under par 138.
Team Results
1. Oklahoma State 288-280=568 (E); 2. Georgia 288-285=573 (+5); T3. Michigan 296-DNF (+6); T3. Texas A&M 298-276=574 (+6); 5. Arizona State 294-281=575 (+7); 6. Washington 293-286=579 (+11); 7. Arkansas 297-283=580 (+12); 8. Duke 297-DNF (+14); T9. UCF 300-DNF (+15); T9. Tennessee 294-289=583 (+15); T11. San Diego 293-DNF (+16); T11. TCU 299-DNF (+16); T13. Alabama 298-288=586 (+18); T13. Georgia Tech 301-285=586 (+18); T13. Southern Cal 305-281=586 (+18); 16. Ohio State 294-DNF (+19); 17. Chattanooga 292-DNF (+20); T18. Northwestern 298-DNF (+21); T18. Iowa 301-DNF (+21); 20. Illinois 299-291=590 (+22); 21. South Carolina 305-286=591 (+23); 22. Texas Tech 303-DNF (+24); 23. Oregon 306-DNF (+27); T24. Virginia 306-DNF (+29); T24. Florida 310-287=597 (+29); 26. Wake Forest 302-DNF (+30); 27. UCLA 306-295=601 (+33); 28. Stanford 305-298=603 (+35); T29. Arizona 310-DNF (+38); T29. Texas 308-DNF (+38)
Top 5 Individuals
1. Alex Ching (San Diego) 70-DNF (-6/thru 11); T2. Russell Henley (Georgia) 71-67=138 (-4); T2. Matt Hill (N.C. State) 69-69=138 (-4); T2. Alexander Sitompul (Michigan) 72-DNF (-4/thru 10); 5. Bronson Burgoon (Texas A&M) 72-67=139 (-3).
Current USD Individuals with incomplete 2nd round results: Alex Ching (1st; -6 thru 11); Blake Trimbe (t-73rd; +7 thru 10 holes); Ian Coffman (t-85th' +8 thru 9 holes); Jason Shano (t-102nd; +9 thru 11); Gunner Wiebe (t-127th; +11 thru 13).
