USC Men’s Golf Wraps Up Regular Season at Thunderbird Collegiate

Men’s Golf | April 13, 2024

PHOENIX — The USC men’s golf team wrapped up its final regular season tournament of the spring Saturday (Apr. 13) at the Thunderbird Collegiate played at Papago Golf Club. The Trojans concluded the tournament with a total score of 25-over (292+290+295=877) placing 17^th after three rounds of play. 
 
After the 36-hole day on Friday was cut short due to darkness, the Trojans finished their second round Saturday morning before competing in the final round immediately after. 
 
Tournament host Arizona State, who was playing at their home course, was atop the team leaderboard throughout all three rounds. The Sun Devils finished 28 shots clear of second place and won the tournament at 38-under.
 
Senior Krando Nishiba continued his solid play for the Trojans at the Thunderbird Collegiate. His best round came on Friday morning, in Round 1,  when he made three birdies and finished his round at even-par (71). After a tough start to his second round, Nishiba finished Round 2 at 4-over 75. His final round only saw him make one birdie, and he finished in 2-over (73), which pushed him into a tie for 70^th at 6-over for the tournament. 
 
Junior Gavin Aurilia, also coming off back to back solid finishes, tied Nishiba at the top of the USC lineup with a three round total of 6-over par.  Aurilia shot his lowest round of the tournament in Round 2 at even par (71) and  closed out his final round today with a team lead in 1-over par (72).
 
Sophomore standout Antonio Safa was USC’s team leader after the second round was completed on Saturday morning. With round of 71-73-77, Safa completed the tournament at 8-over par and a tie for 78^th place.
 
Closing out USC’s efforts were freshman Nicolas Dominguez, who tied for 83^rd, and graduate Sam Lape, who tied for 89^th. Dominguez, whose 54-hole score totaled 9-over, played his three rounds in 75, 72, and 75, making 8 birdies throughout the competition. Lape’s three rounds amounted to scores of 75, 74, and 74, and he slid in two strokes behind his freshman teammate at 11-over.
 
The Thunderbird Collegiate, with one of the top fields in collegiate golf this year, proved to be tough work for the improving Trojans.  

“We had some bright spots with Krando and Gavin continuing to put up consistent scores, but we weren’t tough enough in…