Tuesday, May 7, 2013
DUPONT, Wash. --- Cal State Monterey Bay and Western Washington, the top two seeds in the West Region, each shot 286 to remain 1-2 in the team standings following the second round Tuesday at the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf South Central/West Regional being held at The Home Course, a 7,138-yard layout.
Final-round play Wednesday for the 20-team tourney begins at 7:30 a.m.
It is the second straight day that just four strokes separated CSUMB (565) and WWU (569) when play ended. CSUMB entered the regional ranked No.6 nationally and WWU No.10.
No.8 ranked Abilene Christian (298=585), third after first-day action Monday, dropped nine spots into a tie for 12th. Grand Canyon (283) and Colorado-Colorado Springs, which shot 282, the best round of the day, are tied for third at 571.
Chico State (283) is fifth at 572 and Hawaii Hilo (287) moved up four spots to sixth at 577. The top five team finishers advance to the NCAA II Championships on May 20-24 at Hershey, Penn.
Moving up six places to take over the medalist lead by one stroke at 8-under par 136 was Kevin Witte from Colorado-Colorado Springs. He shot 5-under par 67 with six birdies and one bogey.
Tied for second place at 137 is first-round leader Kyle Beard from Dallas Baptist, who shot 71, and Hawaii-Hilo’s Dalen Yamauchi, who fired a 67 to move up nine spots.
Beard recorded a hole in one on the sixth hole. It was just the 19th ace in the six-year history of the course on that hole.
Leading CSUMB are Alex Sobstad, fourth at 138 after a second straight 69, and Brandon Horitt, who is in a five-way tie for sixth at 140 (73).
Pacing Western Washington are Dylan Goodwin, fifth at 139 (70); Kyle Schrader, tied for sixth at 140 after a second consecutive 70, and Mark Strickland, tied for 11th at 141 (72). Jake Webb and Evan Needham are tied for 88th with 153 totals after shooting 78 and 74, respectively, Tuesday.
Three other GNAC golfers are competing as individuals. Ben Fosnick of Saint Martin's is in 56th with 148 total. Gage Huft of Montana State Billings ranks 77th with a 151 total and Brandon Moore ranks 88th with a 153 score.
The 54-hole tournament is one of four regionals taking place across the country. The South Central/West hosts are the Great Northwest Athletic Conference along with WWU and Saint Martin’s.