PULLMAN, Wash. – Cal (279-271 – 550, -10) is tied for fourth after the first 36 holes of the Itani Quality Homes Collegiate were concluded Monday at the 7,247-yard Palouse Ridge Golf Club on the campus of host Washington State. Cal moved up three spots during a second round of the event that was the fourth-best in a 10-team field includes seven Pac-12 squads who will return to the site for the 2015 Pac-12 Championship next April.
Cal will start Tuesday's third and final round nine shots behind second-round leader Oregon (277-264 – 541, -19).
“It was a rollercoaster ride today,” head coach Steve Desimone said. “We did a lot of things right but we really made too many fundamental mistakes. We should be a lot closer than we are right now.”
Cal's nine-under part team score over the final 18 holes was powered by the combined 11-under play of Cameron Shaw (68-65 – 133, -7) and Sebastian Crampton (72-64 -136, -4), who respectively equaled and shot career best scores in the second round. Shaw and Crampton are tied for fourth and tied for ninth heading into Tuesday's final round after finishing tied for second and tied for fourth in their most recent event at the Windon Memorial last Sunday and Monday.
“There's no question right now that they have been the guys that have been keeping us going,” Desimone said.
Shaw, who started both rounds on the eighth hole, had three eagles on the day including with a pair in the second round on the par-five fifth and 18 holes, as well as one on the par-four 15th during his first trip around the course. He also had five birdies including a pair on the par-five 10th hole. He also birdied the par-four 14th and 18th in his first round, as well as the par-four 17th during his second round. His only three holes over par came with a double bogey on the 17th hole during his first round as well as a bogey on the par-four third hole during his first round and on the par-three 13th on his second.
“I played really well today for all 36 holes,” Shaw said. “I knew I was playing well coming into the event so I just tried staying as patient as possible throughout the day. The team is well in reach of overcoming the deficit. Now that we have seen the course a few times it should help a lot.”
Crampton's spectacular second round that started on the ninth hole tied equaled the day's top second round and tied for the second-best overall included eight birdies. Three of Crampton's second-round birdies came on the par-three holes (4, 11, 13) with another three on par-fours (8, 9, 15). He also birdied two of the course's three par-fives (5, 18). His second-round bogeys came on the par-five 10th and par-four 14th. Crampton's first round included two birdies (5, 15), two bogeys (1, 17) and one double bogey (9).
“I got off to a very shaky start in the morning round but hit some good shots coming down the stretch so I knew I had some momentum going into the afternoon,” Crampton said. “Overall, I'm pleased with the way I played and am looking forward to tomorrow. If we eliminate some of the simple mistakes we made today, we will absolutely be in the mix late tomorrow.”
KK Limbhasut (69-70 – 139, -1) is third on the leaderboard tied for 26th after two rounds, while three Cal players – Walker Huddy (71-72 – 143, +3), Keelan Kilpatrick (71-72 – 143, +3) and Ben Doyle (74-69 – 143, +3) – are tied for 48th with Kilpatrick playing as an individual.
The third and final round is scheduled for Tuesday with a shotgun start beginning at 8:30 a.m. PT.
ITANI QUALITY HOMES COLLEGIATE (HOSTED BY WASHINGTON STATE)
PULLMAN, WA
PALOUSE RIDGE GOLF CLUB (PAR-70, 7,247 YARDS)
TEAM LEADERBOARD (after 1 of 2 days/2 of 3 rounds/36 of 54 holes)
1. Oregon (277-264 – 541, -19)
2. USC (273-270 – 543, -17)
3. Washington State (274-270 – 544, -16)
T4. Cal (279-271 – 550, -10)
T4. Arizona State (276-274 – 550, -10)
6. Utah (273-279 – 552, -8)
7. Idaho (276-278 – 554, -6)
8. Oregon State (284-273 – 557, -3)
9. Washington (282-278 – 560, E)
10. Boise State (279-285 – 564, +4)
PLAYER LEADERBOARD – CO-INDIVIDUAL LEADERS (after 1 of 2 days/2 of 3 rounds, 36 of 54 holes)
T1. Rico Hoey (USC) 66-65 – 131 (-9)
T1. Aaron Wise (Oregon) 67-64 – 131 (-9)
PLAYER LEADERBOARD – CAL INDIVIDUALS (after 1 of 2 days/2 of 3 rounds, 36 of 54 holes)
T4. Cameron Shaw 68-65 – 133 (-7)
T9. Sebastian Crampton 72-64 – 136 (-4)
T26. KK Limbhasut 69-70 – 139, -1)
T48. Walker Huddy (71-72 – 143, +3)
T48. Ben Doyle (74-69 – 143, +3)
*T48. Keelan Kilpatrick (71-72 – 143, +3)
*Playing as an individual
