April 6, 2013
TEMPE, Ariz. - No. 1 Cal (284-282 - 566, -2) was able to cut its deficit to leader New Mexico (276-286 - 562, -6) in half by the end second round of action Saturday at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational. Cal remains tied for fourth and in addition to trailing New Mexico by four shots is also two behind both San Diego (289-275 - 564, -4) and Oregon State (284-280 - 564, -4).
"There are six teams out there that are in it," head coach Steve Desimone said. "I have to think we have the best shot at this, but we're going to have to play better tomorrow than we have in the first two rounds. We've put ourselves in a position to win, but we're going to need the guys to play their best golf tomorrow. There's very little margin for error."
Brandon Hagy (70-65 - 135, -7) had a huge day for Cal on Saturday by shooting a six-under par round of 65 that equaled both the best of the day and the second-best of his career as he moved up nine spots into third place overall. Hagy played bogey-free golf Saturday and had six birdies. He birdied each of the course's par-five holes (10, 14, 17) and added three more on the par-four second, fifth and 11th holes.
"It was a really solid round for me from start to finish," said Hagy, who will enter Sunday's final 18 holes of action three strokes off the pace of second-round leader Nick Chianello of Oregon State (64-68 - 132, -10). "I stayed patient, didn't try to force shots and my putting kept the momentum going."
"Brandon Hagy played a great round and was really our only guy on top of his game," Desimone said.
Michael Kim (69-71 - 140, -2) slipped a pair of spots into a tie for eighth after his even-par round of 71. Kim matched Hagy's birdies on each of the back nine's par fives (10, 14, 17), while his three bogeys came on back-to-back par-three holes (6, 7) and the par-four 15th.
Max Homa (73-70 - 143, +1) jumped 15 spots into a tie for 24th following his one-under par round. Homa bogeyed the par-four first hole out of the gate but would play two-under the remainder of the round with four birdies and two bogeys over his final 17 holes. Homa's birdies came on the par-four second and par-three seventh holes, as well as a pair of par-fives (14, 17) on the back nine.
Yoon (72-76 - 148, +6) dropped 23 spots into a tie for 51st as his four-over par round was hampered by a pair of double bogeys and four bogeys. He did manage three birdies on the second, par-four 13th and 14th holes.
Joël Stalter (73-76 - 149, +7) fell 21 spots into a tie for 60th after a four-over par round that included seven bogeys to two birdies, which came on the 10th and 17th holes.
The final round of the event hosted by Arizona State at the par-71, 7,026-yard ASU Karsten Golf Course is scheduled to take place Sunday, with the first tee time slated for 7:30 a.m. PT.
"I think we are right in position to win tomorrow," Hagy said. "We have always played better in the final round so I expect us to make a run."
Cal has won a school-record eight of nine tournaments in 2012-13 and is only two victories shy of the unofficial NCAA season-record win total of 10 established by the 1985-86 Oklahoma State squad. Cal has won 14 of its last 23 tournaments overall dating back to the beginning of the 2011-12 campaign and finished in the top five in all 23.
ASU Thunderbird Invitational (hosted by Arizona State)
Tempe, Ariz. - ASU Karsten Golf Course (par-71, 7,026 yards)
TEAM LEADER BOARD (after 2 of 3 days/2 of 3 rounds/36 of 54 holes)
1. New Mexico (276-286 - 562, -6)
T2. San Diego (289-275 - 564, -4)
T2. Oregon State (284-280 - 564, -4)
T4. UNLV (283-283 - 566, -2)
T4. Cal (284-282 - 566, -2)
T4. San Diego State (281-285 - 566, -2)
7. Arizona (290-284 - 574, +6)
T8. New Mexico State (289-286 - 575, +7)
T8. Iowa State (290-285 - 575, +7)
T8. UC Davis (293-282 - 575, +7)
11. Pepperdine (287-293 - 580, +12)
T12. St. John's (294-288 - 582, +14)
13. Denver (297-286 - 583, +15)
14. Arizona State (296-293 - 589, +21)
15. Harvard (294-298 - 592, +24)
16. Hawai'i (313-291 - 604, +36)
17. Seattle (298-309 - 607, +39)
18. Cal State Northridge (309-316 - 625, +57)
PLAYER LEADER BOARD - INDIVIDUAL LEADER (after 2 of 3 days/2 of 3 rounds/36 of 54 holes)
1. Nick Chianello (Oregon State) 64-68 - 132 (-10)
PLAYER LEADER BOARD - CAL INDIVIDUALS (after 2 of 3 days/2 of 3 rounds/36 of 54 holes)
3. Brandon Hagy 70-65 - 135 (-7)
T8. Michael Kim 69-71 - 140 (-2)
T24. Max Homa 73-70 - 143 (+1)
T51. James Yoon 72-76 - 148 (+6)
T60. Joël Stalter 73-76 - 149 (+7)
