No. 2 Virginia Surges to Sixth on Final DayNo. 2 Virginia Surges to Sixth on Final Day

No. 2 Virginia Surges to Sixth on Final Day

by Scott Fitzgerald

PAUMA VALLEY, Calif. – Second-ranked Virginia moved up six spots after it shot a 10-under, 274 as a team in the final round at the Pauma Valley Invitational. The four counting scores for the Cavaliers on Wednesday (March 18) were all in the 60s.

The 278 was the best team score on the final day by three strokes. Ben James (68), Paul Chang (68), Michael Lee (69) and Maxi Puregger (69) powered the Cavalier charge that saw Virginia make the biggest move (six spots) of any team on Wednesday.

James was UVA’s top finisher in the individual leaderboard at six-under (71-71-68, 207), his seventh top five finish in seven starts this season. He carded five birdies, including two on his final four holes. The 207 was his second-best 54-hole score of the season.

Chang’s consistency of the three days led to his third top 10 of the season. His three-day total of 208 (70-70-68, 5-under) put him in a four-way tie for eighth place. He totaled 14 birdies over the three rounds, the fourth most of anyone in the 92-player field.

Freshman Michael Lee only had one bogey on his card and etched a 69 that featured three birdies. He has four rounds in the 60s in his debut season and the 69 was his best score since the second round of the Sykes Individual back in February. Sophomore Maxi Puregger netted four birdies on his way to a final round 69. He birdied his final two holes to get under par for the day.

Additional Notes

  • Chang and James played the par 5s at 6-under (4.33) throughout the tournament, tied for the best in the field.
  • As a team, Oklahoma State and Virginia held the best scoring average of 4.04 (6-over) on the par 4s.
  • Ben James added to his school record with his 32nd top 10 of his Cavalier career.

UP NEXT

Virginia will send select individuals to the Golden Horseshoe Intercollegiate in Williamsburg (March 23-24) next week before The Calusa Cup in Naples, Fla. on April 6-8, the final road tournament of the regular season for the Cavaliers.

LEADERBOARD 

PL. 

TEAM 

RD 1 

RD 2

RD 3

TOTAL

TO PAR 

T1. 

Tennessee

273

284

279

836

-16

T1. 

Georgia Tech

280

278

278

836

-16

T3. 

Florida

285

274

280

839

-13

T3. 

LSU

283

279

277

839

-13

5. 

Oklahoma State

279

285

280

844

-8

T6. 

Illinois

287

277

282

846

-6

T6. 

Virginia

287

285

274

846

-6

8. 

SMU

281

285

281

847

-5

9. 

Ole Miss

276

289

288

853

+1

10. 

Texas Tech

283

285

287

855

+3

11. 

ETSU

292

287

278

857

+5 

13. 

San Diego State

285

291

284

860

+8 

10. 

San Diego

284

286

292

862

+10

T14. 

Toledo

290

287

288

865

+13

T14.

Loyola Marymount

293

278

294

865

+13

16.

Colorado State

293

297

293

883

+31

VIRGINIA 

PL. 

PLAYER 

RD 1 

RD 2

RD 3

TOTAL

TO PAR 

T5.

Ben James 

71

71

68

207

-6

T8.

Paul Chang 

70

70

68

208

-5

T48.

Michael Lee

75

72

69

216

+3

T57.

Maxi Puregger 

73

75

69

217

+4

T75.

Josh Duangmanee

73

77

72

222

+9