Oct. 15, 2007
The Prestige at PGA WEST (live scoring)
LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Minnesota's Clayton Rask shot back-to-back rounds of 4-under 68 on Monday to take a three-shot lead at The Prestige at PGA WEST, co-hosted by Stanford and UC Davis, while top-ranked Charlotte assumed a four-shot lead in the team standings heading into Tuesday's final round.
The Aggies, paced by a 71 in the second round by junior Ramie Sprinkling and a 72 in the first round by freshman Austin Graham, are in 14th place at 18-over par on the 7,156-yard Greg Norman Course at PGA WEST.
The tournament, now in its eighth season, brings together some of the top academic and golf-playing institutions in the country. Besides top-ranked Charlotte, eight other teams ranked in the top 50 are participating in the 16-team event.
Charlotte had rounds of 7-under 281 and 285 during Monday's 36 holes to finish at 566. No. 42 Central Florida was the only other team under par, posting a 6-under 570 through the first two rounds. Defending NCAA champion Stanford is in third at 2-over while No. 14 Pepperdine and San Diego are tied for fourth at 5-over.
Rask, ranked 25th by Golfstat, was the only player in the 84-competitor field to break 70 in both rounds, posting five birdies and a bogey in each round. He leads three players by three shots, a group that includes Andrew DiBetetto of Charlotte, Tim Schaetzel of Michigan and Dan Woltman of Wisconsin. A total of 14 players broke par on the first day which was was highlighted by sunshine and warm temperatures.
Sprinkling led UC Davis in the second round on Monday, carding three pars in his first 11 holes on his way to a 71, the lowest round of the day for the Aggies. He had a 75 in the first round and is at 2-over 146, tied for 29th. One of those he's tied with is teammate Austin Graham who finished with a 72 in the morning and a 74 in the afternoon. Graham's 72 was the team's best in the first round.
UC Davis' Nate Pistacchio had rounds of 74 and 76 and is tied for 49th at 6-over 150, senior Matt Marshall is tied for 62nd at 8-over and sophomore Phil Huffman is in 81st after consecutive 79's. Gregg Button, playing as an individual for the Aggies along with teammate Brent Booth, is tied for 40th at 4-over. Booth is tied for 77th.
The tournament concludes with 18 holes on Tuesday, beginning at 8 a.m.
THE PRESTIGE AT PGA WEST
Greg Norman Course (La Quinta, Calif.)
Par 72, 7,156 yards
Co-hosted by UC Davis and Stanford
36-hole totals
TEAM STANDINGS (top 5 plus UCD)
1. Charlotte, 281-285-566
2. Central Florida, 284-286-570
3. Stanford, 285-293-578
T4. Pepperdine, 287-294-581
T4. San Diego, 287-294-581
14. UC Davis, 298-296-594
INDIVIDUALS (leader plus UCD)
- 1. Clayton Rask, Minnesota, 68-68-136
UC Davis
T29. Ramie Sprinkling, 75-71-146
T29. Austin Graham, 72-74-146
T49. Nate Pistacchio, 74-76-150; T62. Matt Marshall, 77-75-152; 81. Phil Huffman, 79-79-158
T40. Gregg Button, 76-72-148
T77. Brent Booth, 80-77-157
