UVa Men's Golfers Suffer Through Long Day at NCAA Championships

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Pacific Palisades, Calif. – The No. 16 Virginia men’s golf team is tied for 29th place after the first round of the NCAA Championships taking place at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. The Cavaliers shot 22-over 306 and are tied with Tulsa for last place following the opening 18 holes. It marked just the second time this spring UVa scored over 300 as a team.

Alabama, ranked No. 2, leads the field at 1-over 285 as no team managed to shoot below par on the historic par-71, 7,292-yard course, which is the host site for the PGA Tour’s Northern Trust Open.

The tournament format includes 54-holes of stroke play. The top eight teams will then advance to head-to-head match play to decide the NCAA Champion. The individual medalist will be crowned following stroke play.

Virginia senior Bruce Woodall had the best day for the Cavaliers, shooting even par 71. He finished the round in 13th place. Senior Ben Kohles and sophomore Ben Rusch, the ACC individual champion, both posted rounds of 7-over 78 and are tied for 130th. Denny McCarthy, the ACC Freshman of the Year, is in 137th place at 79 and freshman Ji Soo Park is 149th after shooting 10-over 81.

McCarthy and Rusch’s scores were their highest of the season and it was the second highest round this year for Kohles.

“We didn’t play our best golf today,” said Virginia coach Bowen Sargent. “We were a little too aggressive and on a tough golf course like this, it will make you pay. It will be interesting to see how the team bounces back. We will see what we are made of. Hopefully the answer is that they have some resolve and want to finish in good fashion.”

UCLA’s Anton Arboleda took the opening round lead by shooting 4-under 67. Kent State’s Corey Conners and Florida’s Tyler McCumber trail him by a single stroke.

The Cavaliers start their second round at 8:40 a.m. PT Wednesday from the first tee. Live scoring is online at NCAA.com.

NCAA Championships
Riviera Country Club
Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Par-71, 7,292 yards
First Round Results

Team Results
1. Alabama 285
2. Florida 288
2. Auburn 288
4. UCLA 289
4. Oklahoma 289
6. Iowa 290
6. Florida State 290
6. North Florida 290
6. Texas 290
6. UCF 290
11. Oregon 291
12. San Diego State 292
13. Kent State 293
13. Stanford 293
15. Georgia 295
15. California 295
15. Illinois 295
15. East Carolina 295
15. Liberty 295
20. Washington 296
21. UAB 297
22. USC 298
22. Texas A&M 298
24. Chattanooga 299
24. TCU 299
24. Memphis 299
24. Virginia Tech 299
24. Lamar 299
29. Virginia 306
29. Tulsa 306

Individual Leaders
1. Anton Arboleda, UCLA 67
2. Corey Conners, Kent State 68
2. Tyler McCumber, Florida 68
4. Blayne Barber, Auburn 69
4. Dominic Bozelli, Auburn 69
4. Will Kropp, Oklahoma 69
4. Thomas Pieters, Illinois 69
4. Patrick Rodgers, Stanford 69
4. Joseph Winslow, Iowa 69

Virginia
13. Bruce Woodall 71
130. Ben Kohles 78
130. Ben Rusch 78
137. Denny McCarthy 79
149. Ji Soo Park 81