Men’s Golf | October 30, 2023
CARMEL, Calif. – The USC men’s golf team completed its first day at the Cal Poly Invitational on Monday (Oct. 30) at the Preserve Golf Club in Carmel, Calif. After a morning that was postponed to a 10:30 a.m. PT start, two hours behind the scheduled start time of 8:30 a.m. PT, the team finished its opening loop in 5-under (67+70+71+75=283) slotting them into solo third.
The Trojans currently sit one shot behind second place UCLA at 6-under and three back of first place Oregon at 8-under.
Freshman Nico Dominguez led the Trojans in the first round of this week’s tournament. After a quick eagle on his third hole of the day, Dominguez continued to play well making two more birdies on his first nine and 4 on the day. On the final hole, Dominguez holed out from 110 with a wedge to make his second eagle of the day and close his round out in a collegiate career-best of 5-under, 67.
Continuing the steady play that has characterized his first season at USC, sophomore Antonio Safa started off his first round with 4 birdies in a 5-hole stretch, eventually tacking on one more as he walked his way to a solid 2-under, 70.
Gavin Aurilia carried over his good play from the final round of the GC of Georgia Intercollegiate as he made eagle and three birdies. His first round resulted in a 1-under, 71, which he looks to build on with a strong final 27 holes tomorrow.
Sam Lape and Krando Nishiba closed out the pack today. Nishiba, who didn’t get off to the start he hoped for, couldn’t quite find his stride making only one birdie throughout the round and finishing in 5-over, 77. Lape battled throughout, making two consecutive birdies on his first nine and another bounce-back birdie on his second nine and finished in 3-over.
The second round, which started later than expected because of the frost delay that occurred this morning, is only halfway finished and the final nine holes will be completed on Tuesday morning (Oct. 31) before the final round of play begins. Because of this, all teams will end up playing 27 holes tomorrow instead of the 18 that they were expecting. Coach Hankins stresses
that the conditions at the Preserve Golf Club will continue to change, however, the team was well prepared for today and battled hard throughout.
The Trojans will start…
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