USC Men’s Golf Concludes First Day at Golf Club of Georgia Intercollegiate

Men’s Golf | October 14, 2023

ALPHARETTA, Ga.–The USC men’s golf team kicked off play at its third tournament of the season on Friday (Oct.13) at the Lakeside Course at the Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta, Ga. The group ended the day at 2-under, 286 (69-71-72-74) in a tie for ninth with Northwestern, currently sitting 11 back from tournament leader East Tennessee State.

With a strong showing of 3-under on par 5’s, Georgia native Sam Lape led the team for the entirety of today’s round not carding a bogey until his fifteenth hole of play. With 4 birdies on the day and three on his front nine, Lape played his way to a tie for 7th after he carded a 3-under, (69), two back of the leader at 5-under.

Again, showing his patience and poise was sophomore Antonio Safa who was steady throughout his first round. Back-to-back birdies on his first 9 propelled him to a 1-under, (71) after he was able to finish strong and birdie his final hole of the day. He finished in a tie for 26th.

Krando Nishiba, who was tested on his front nine, answered back with an eagle on the first hole of his second nine. After, he went on to make two more birdies and slot himself in at even par, (72). One behind his teammate Antonio Safa, Nishiba is currently tied for 37th. Jackson Rivera and Gavin Aurilia both fought hard today, but a couple shots didn’t fall their way. Rivera, after rebounding from two early bogeys with a birdie after each, couldn’t find his stride on the back nine and fell in at 2-over, (74). Aurilia, who got off to a slow start, picked it up on the back, making 3 birdies in total. He finished the day at 3-over, (75). Although one shot separates Rivera and Aurilia, Rivera is tied for 55th while Aurilia will start the second day in a tie for 63rd.

A solid opening round for the Trojans as they compete for the second year in row at the GolfClub of Georgia Intercollegiate. The majority of the field sits between 2-under and 2-over, giving the team the ability to get a couple shots back tomorrow and make a run up the leaderboard. With tee times starting an hour earlier at 9:00 am EST, the Trojans will be in the first five groups. to go out. Aurilia will go first, followed by Nishiba, Lape, Rivera, and Safa.

THE GOLF CLUB OF GEORGIA INTERCOLLEGIATE

THE LAKESIDE COURSE AT THE GOLF CLUB OF GEORGIA

ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA

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