Cats Sink Birdie After Birdie As Play Is Called

DALLAS, Texas – The second round of the Jackson T. Stephens Cup was cut short due to darkness at Trinity Forest Golf Club as No. 18 Arizona Men’s Golf was carding blistering low scores after the turn in a marathon day that was scheduled for 36 holes. The Wildcats left the course on Monday morning in fifth place at 20-under par as a team with four holes remaining in their round while sitting within six strokes of the next three teams above them on the leaderboard.

“We got off to a bit of a slow start but really turned it on after the turn in the morning round,” said head coach Jim Anderson. “From that point on, all five of our guys were playing some fantastic golf and carding great scores. Hats off to our entire lineup for today’s performances and for competing at the highest level in a terrific golf environment. It really felt like postseason golf out there, and I am incredibly proud of how each and every one of our guys rose to the occasion. If we can keep this rolling over the next two days, we will be very happy with where we stand in the end.”

 

Junior Tiger Christensen led the charge for Arizona with an impressive 6-under round of 66 in the morning, and he followed that up with a 3-under round through 13 holes in the afternoon before play was called. By the end of the day, Christensen sat in a three-way tie for second place at 9-under. He also sits one stroke behind tournament leader, Gray Albright of Florida State.

The torrid pace of Arizona on the back nine in the afternoon round saw the Cats shoot 8-under through five holes before play was called due to darkness. The Cats were sinking putt after putt during the Golf Channel’s coverage of the second round, which included sophomore Yannick Malik sinking a monster birdie putt on the ninth hole.

 

NICE PUTT!#NCAAGolf | @TheStephensCup | @ArizonaMGolf pic.twitter.com/c4FKdN4x2Z

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) October 9, 2023

Arizona had three players in the top 20 of the individual leaderboards with sophomore Zach Pollo sitting three strokes behind Christensen. Pollo shot a 70 in the morning and had a bogey-free second round going with four birdies when play was suspended. With three holes remaining in his round, Pollo sits in a tie for 12^th. Junior Johnny Walker joins his teammates in the top 20 as play was called during his own stellar…