Pepperdine cruises to win following record-setting Monday

06 Oct 2020
by Brayden Conover of AmateurGolf.com
see also: Joshua McCarthy Rankings
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2020-21 Pepperdine Waves (Pepperdine Athletics)

How do you follow up a school-record 31 under team score? By winning the tournament of course.

The Pepperdine Waves did not get in their own way on Tuesday. Beginning the final round at Pasadera Collegiate Invitational with an eight shot lead over Loyola Marymount, the Waves crashed the party, sucking the life out of the tournament and winning by 28 shots.

36 hole leader and Pepperdine sophomore Dylan Menante (Carlsbad, California) simmered down after his 13-under solo performance on Monday, shooting 1-under 69 and losing in a playoff to teammate, senior Joshua McCarthy (Danville, California).

McCarthy had the low round of the day, carding a 6-under 64, his second such score of the tournament. Two back of Menante, McCarthy started hot as he posted birdies on five of his first seven holes. Featuring a triple bogey on No. 12 and a bogey on No. 16, McCarthy made up for the uncharacteristic errors with three birdies and an eagle on No. 17 to tie clubhouse leader Menante.

In the playoff, McCarthy took the trophy and bragging rights over Menante on the second hole with a short birdie putt.

In the end, five of the 10 Waves that made the trip to Pasadera finished inside the top five. Joey Vrzich (El Cajon, California) and Joe Highsmith (Lakewood, Washington) took shares of third place at 11-under 199.

Freshman Caden Fiorini (San Diego, California) marked a top-five finish in his first ever collegiate start with rounds of 67-66-67 for a 10 under total.

Coming off a hot summer, sophomore William Mouw (Chino, California) stayed consistent with his second 68 of the tournament, good for a T-7 8-under 202. Joining Mouw in eighth was Wave junior Derek Hitchner (Minneapolis, Minnesota).

Just outside the top 10, senior Clay Feagler (Laguna Niguel, California) nabbed a T-12 spot with a 4-under 66 final round. One shot behind Feagler, senior RJ Manke rounded out his tournament with a final round 70 for a 3-under event total 207.

With three birdies on the day, senior Austin Murphy (Morgan Hill, California) secured an even par 70 on Tuesday for a 2-under 208 tournament total, tying for 17th.