USF Dons lead at NCAA Div. 1 West Regional
PALO ALTO, Calif. (May 17, 2012) – San Francisco men's golf opened up play in the 2012 NCAA West Regional with a flourish and leads the field with 18 holes in the books after shooting a seven-under 273 on a beautiful Thursday afternoon at the Stanford Golf Course. Every player in the lineup for the Dons carded a round at par or better, while a trio sit at two-under 68 on the 6,727-yard, par-70 course.
USF got strong production from its seniors, as Ji Hwan Park and Mat Miller sit in a share of seventh place on the leaderboard at two-under 68, along with junior Taylor Travis. It is the third NCAA Regional appearance for Park and the second for both Miller and Travis.
Park recorded an eagle on the par-5 No. 7 to go along with a birdie and just one bogey on the day. Miller turned in a tremendous rally for the Dons after going three-over through five holes, recovering to birdie six of his next 13 holes, including four of the final six. Travis also recorded six birdies, with five coming on his first 10 holes.
Back carded four birdies on the day and shares 17th place at one-under 69. Freshman Jobim Carlos battled all day for an even-par 70, carding six birdies, six pars and six bogeys in his first NCAA postseason.
San Francisco owns a three-shot lead over No. 2 California (4-under, 276) and a four-stroke edge over regional-host No. 8 Stanford (3-under, 277). UAB and No. 22 Central Florida are tied for fourth place at two-under 278.
The top five teams and top individual not from one of those five teams will advance to NCAA Nationals, May 29-June 3, at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Making its third NCAA Regional appearance in four years and fourth overall, the Dons are seeking their first-ever trip to nationals.
ABOUT THE NCAA Division I West Regional
54 hole men's NCAA Regional from which the
low
teams advance to the NCAA Championship.
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