Men's golf in 5th place at NCAA

May 27, 2009

The No. 13 Arizona State men's golf team shot a 3-under 281 in Tuesday's second round of the NCAA Men's Golf Championship being held at the par-71, 7,255-yard Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. Because of a four-and-a-half hour rain delay second-round play was halted before the second group of 15 teams could complete play.<separator></separator>At the time play was suspended ASU, which was in the first group of teams and had already completed its round, was in fifth place with a 7-over 575 (294-281). Top seed Oklahoma State is leading the 30-team field with an even-par 568 (288-280). The Cowboys hold a five-stroke lead over first-round co-leader Georgia (288-285=573). Texas A&M is in third place at 6-over 574 (298-276) and carded the best round of the day with an eight-under par 276. Michigan, which was nearly halfway done with its round when play was suspended, was also at 6-over par.<separator></separator>The second round will resume beginning at 6:45 a.m. ET on Thursday with the third round tentatively scheduled to begin at 10 a.m ET. Following the third round the field will be cut to eight teams for match play which will begin on Friday.<separator></separator>After a slow start in Tuesday's first round the Sun Devils came out and found immediate success on Wednesday. Starting play on the 10th hole, ASU was 6-under after its first nine holes of play. Sophomores <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/mtt/borsheim_knut00.html">Kn… Borsheim</a> and <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/mtt/kennegard_jesper00.html"… Kennegard</a> and freshman <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/mtt/kim_chan00.html">Chan Kim</a> had three birdies each on the front nine while sophomore Stephen Gross recorded one birdie and an eagle on the par-4 16th hole.<separator></separator><img src="http://grfx.cstv.com/graphics/spacer.gif" height="1border=0" width="5"> "We started on the back [of the course today] which is the easier of the two nines and we came out and had things going pretty well," ASU head coach <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/mtt/lein_randy00.html">Randy Lein</a> said.  <separator></separator>On the last nine holes sophomore <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/mtt/pinckney_scott00.html">S… Pinckney</a> took center stage for the Sun Devils as he punctuated what would be the team's finest performance of the day. After playing even par during the first nine holes Pinckney's steady game would account for four birdies to end with a 4-under 67. Also coming through with solid play on ASU's final nine holes was Kennegard, who accounted for eight pars and one birdie to conclude the round with a 2-under 69. Although he had one bogey and a pair of double bogeys, Kim would make up some ground with an eagle on the par-5 eighth hole and would go on to finish the round even at 71. Gross (+3) and Borsheim (+8) would finish their respective rounds above par.<separator></separator>"Today we saw what makes this team special and that is the depth we have," said Lein. "Everyone on this team contributes. Today might be the first time all spring that we did not count Knut's score and we still had a good round."<separator></separator>With his 4-under 67 on Wednesday Pinckney moved into a tie for sixth place in the overall standings after starting the day 29th. Pinckney's 2-under 140 (73-67) for the tournament is four shots behind leader Alex Ching of San Diego, who was thru 11 holes when play was suspended.<script src="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/javascript/wysiwyg/tiny_mce/themes/advance…; type="text/javascript"></script><separator></separator>"I think I have a shot at it, but I'm trying not to get too nervous," Pinckney said. "I played here in the Preview so I know the golf course. If I come out and play my game I think I have a good shot."<separator></separator>Added Lein, "We have to give some kudos to Scott. He played a really good round today and he has now put himself in a position where he could win this thing."<separator></separator>Also in contention to capture the top spot is Kennegard, who is 1-under 140 (72-69) for the tournament.<separator></separator>Team Results 1. Oklahoma State 288-280=568 (E); 2. Georgia 288-285=573 (+5); T3. Michigan 296-DNF (+6); T3. Texas A&M 298-276=574 (+6); 5. Arizona State 294-281=575 (+7); 6. Washington 293-286=579 (+11); 7. Arkansas 297-283=580 (+12); 8. Duke 297-DNF (+14); T9. UCF 300-DNF (+15); T9. Tennessee 294-289=583 (+15); T11. San Diego 293-DNF (+16); T11. TCU 299-DNF (+16); T13. Alabama 298-288=586 (+18); T13. Georgia Tech 301-285=586 (+18); T13. Southern Cal 305-281=586 (+18); 16. Ohio State 294-DNF (+19); 17. Chattanooga 292-DNF (+20); T18. Northwestern 298-DNF (+21); T18. Iowa 301-DNF (+21); 20. Illinois 299-291=590 (+22); 21. South Carolina 305-286=591 (+23); 22. Texas Tech 303-DNF (+24); 23. Oregon 306-DNF (+27); T24. Virginia 306-DNF (+29); T24. Florida 310-287=597 (+29); 26. Wake Forest 302-DNF (+30); 27. UCLA 306-295=601 (+33); 28. Stanford 305-298=603 (+35); T29. Arizona 310-DNF (+38); T29. Texas 308-DNF (+38) Top 5 Individuals 1. Alex Ching 70-DNF (-6/thru 11); T2. Russell Henley (Georgia) 71-67=138 (-4); T2. Matt Hill (N.C. State) 69-69=138 (-4); T2. Alexander Sitompul (Michigan) 72-DNF (-4/thru 10); 5. Bronson Burgoon (Texas A&M) 72-67=139 (-3).<separator></separator>Arizona State Individuals<separator></separator>T6. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/mtt/pinckney_scott00.html">S… Pinckney</a> 73-67=140 (-2); T10. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/mtt/kennegard_jesper00.html"… Kennegard</a> 72-69=141 (-1); T44. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/mtt/kim_chan00.html">Chan Kim</a> 75-71-146 (+4); T85. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/mtt/gross_stephan00.html">St… Gross</a> 76-74=150 (+8); T127. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/mtt/borsheim_knut00.html">Kn… Borsheim</a> 74-79=153 (+8).