Ballester Finishes in Ninth, Men’s Golf Finish Third at The Williams Cup

Wilmington, NC – Another week, another top-3 finish for Sun Devil Men’s Golf at The Williams Cup on Tuesday at Eagle Point Golf Club, filing in at 12-over, 876 (282-303-291) finishing behind Auburn and North Carolina, which finished at 11-under, 853 (274-286-293). Josele Ballester finished inside the top-10, placing ninth at even-par, 216 (73-72-71) for the tournament, his second top-10 finish this season. Nick Prieto started the day in second and finished the day victorious at the Oregon State Invitational at 4-under, 209 (68-70-71) for his first collegiate victory.

Prieto shot an even-par 71 and had to do it in rainy conditions in the pacific northwest. He managed to birdie three of the last four holes and was one of four golfers to finish the tournament under-par. For the freshman, he’s the only golfer in the entire tournament field to shoot every round at par or better and was the best in the field attacking the par 5’s with a 4.56 scoring average, going 4-under on such holes. 

In his third round, Ballester battled most of the day and opened with two birdies on his first five holes, then rebounded twice, making birdies on holes seven and 16 after dropping a shot on the previous hole. His birdie on the 16th hole solidified a round of 71 and being one of nine players to finish at even-par or better for the tournament.

Preston Summerhays battled through the tough conditions and posted a round of 2-over, 74 but was able to finish inside the top-15 for the third time this season with a score of 3-over, 219 (69-76-74). Alongside the Scottsdale native was Luke Potter who also finished at 3-over, 219 (73-73-73) also finishing in a tie for 13th. On Tuesday he managed to birdie the 580-yard, 18th hole to solidify his place inside the top-15 for the 7th time in his collegiate career, Potter had four birdies on the day, totaling 12 birdies throughout three rounds. 

Graduate Ryggs Johnston had four birdies in his final round and birdied three of the final nine holes to propel him to a 1-over, 73 finish to card 9-over, 225 (70-82-73) for the tournament. Gabe Salvanera finished at 14-over, 230 (70-84-76) and carded two…