Hoos Post Morning Rally to Finish 1st Round 10th at NCAAs
May 27, 2017
Sugar Grove, Ill. – The No. 18 Virginia men’s golf team put on a huge rally Saturday morning to climb back up in the standings at the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships after weather prevented the Hoos from finishing their first round Friday. The Cavaliers ended the opening round of play at even par 288 to tie for 10th. Vanderbilt grabbed the first-round lead, shooting 10-under 278. Illinois, Oklahoma State and Auburn are tied for second at 6-under 282.
When UVA returned to Rich Harvest Farms at 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning to complete its first round, the Hoos were in 23rd place at 7-over par with its lineup of five players having completed between eight and 10 holes. UVA took advantage of the soft greens and no wind to rally and shoot seven-under during its remaining holes.
No player was hotter for UVA on Saturday morning than junior Danny Walker (Brandenton, Fla.).
During Friday’s play, Walker posted a triple-bogey on the par-3 No. 13 hole, after the tournament restarted briefly following the first of two rain delays, to move to four-over for his round. Another bogey on No. 17, after the second weather delay, pushed his score to 5-over through eight holes.
Before Friday’s play was suspended due to darkness, he finished with back-to-back birdies on No. 18 and No. 1. Walker started his Saturday with four birdies over his first six holes and finished his round at 1-under 71.
Senior Jimmy Stanger (Tampa, Fla.) had UVA’s best first-round score, shooting 2-under 70. Senior Derek Bard shot 1-over 73 and sophomore Thomas Walsh (High Point, N.C.) closed out UVA’s scoring with a 2-over 74. Freshman Luke Schaap (Potomac, Md.) was the Hoos’ non-counter at 3-over 75.
UVA is currently on the course completing its second round.
The tournament format includes 54 holes of stroke play through Sunday. Following three rounds of competition, the top 15 teams, along with the top nine individuals not on an advancing team, will advance for one additional day of stroke play on Monday to determine the eight-team field for match play. The NCAA individual champion is scheduled to be determined after 72 holes of stroke play.
NCAA Championships
Rich Harvest Farms
Sugar Grove, Ill.
Par 72, 7,300 yards
First-Round Results
Team Results 1. Vanderbilt 278 2. Illinois 282 2. Oklahoma State 282 2. Auburn 282 5. UNLV 283 6. Oklahoma 284 6. USC 284 8. Mississippi 287 8. Alabama 28710. Baylor 28810. Virginia 28812. Kent State 28912. Florida State 28912. Pepperdine 28915. Arizona State 29016. LSU 29117. Stanford 29317. Texas 29317. Iowa State 29317. North Carolina 293 21. UCF 29421. Oregon 29421. Jacksonville 29424. Kennesaw State 29724. New Mexico 29726. Duke 29826. Purdue 29828. Lipscomb 30029. Penn State 30130. Clemson 313