INDEPENDENCE, Minn. – Cal (293-289 – 582, +14) opened its 2014-15 season with the first two rounds of the Gopher Invitational on Sunday at the par-71, 7,152-yard Windsong Farm Golf Club. The Golden Bears will begin Monday's third and final round in second place 10 strokes behind second-round leader Baylor (289-283 – 572, +4), while host Minnesota (294-295 – 589, +21) is seven shots behind the Bears after 36 holes.
“We really competed and hung in there after a tough start and jumped back into it,” said Steve Desimone, who began his 36th season as the Bears' head coach Sunday. “We figured we would have our hands full with a very good Baylor team and we did, but we are looking forward to tomorrow and seeing if we can put a few good rounds together.”
Keelan Kilpatrick (67-75 – 142, E) led after the first 18 holes following an opening-round 67 that kicked off his junior season. Kilpatrick is tied for fourth after two rounds and trails second-round leader Victor Wiggins of Charlotte (68-69 – 137, -5) by five shots.
“It was nice to get back into collegiate golf again,” Kilpatrick said. “The first 36-hole day of the season is always a grind but we managed to hang in there. A few of the guys had a bit of a rusty start, but they managed to fight their way back and we are well within striking distance tomorrow. The belief in the team is there and we feel like we have something to prove. Personally, I had a solid day despite a couple of wayward shots on the front nine this afternoon that were costly. I'm looking for another red number tomorrow.”
Walker Huddy and KK Limbhasut – two players that were not in the Cal lineup for a 2013-14 team that finished 11th last May at the 2014 NCAA Championship – are tied for 16th another five shots back. Huddy (76-71 – 147, +5) is a sophomore that redshirted a year ago, while Limbhasut (77-70 – 147, +5) is a heralded true freshman making his collegiate debut after a stellar junior career.
“I am extremely excited to start my new journey in collegiate golf,” Limbhasut said. “It will be much tougher than junior golf but at the same time it will improve me to be a better competitor. I am honored to be part of this program and looking forward to all the exciting times yet to come.”
Cameron Shaw (77-73 – 150, +8) and Shotaro Ban (73-79 – 152, +10) are tied for 27th and 35th, respectively.
Ban was the only player in Cal's lineup Sunday to have played at the 2014 NCAA Championship.
Cal came into the 2014-15 campaign with preseason rankings of No. 6 by Golfweek and No. 14 according to the Golf Coaches Association of America.
“I don't want to get too high or get too low after the first two rounds of the year but there were some very positive signs today,” Desimone said. “We took some baby steps towards getting more experience and gaining confidence.”
The third and final round of the Gopher Invitational gets underway Monday at 7:30 a.m. CT/5:30 a.m. PT. Cal's first tee time is at 9 a.m. CT/7 a.m. PT.
GOPHER INVITATIONAL (HOSTED BY MINNESOTA)
INDEPENDENCE, MN
WINDSONG FARM GOLF CLUB (PAR-71, 7,152 YARDS)
TEAM LEADERBOARD (after 1 of 2 days/2 of 3 rounds/38 of 54 holes)
1. Baylor (289-283 – 572, +4)
2. Cal (293-289 – 582, +14)
3. Minnesota (294-295 – 589, +21)
4. Charlotte (296-294 – 590, +22)
5. Kent State (291-302 – 593, +25)
T6. VCU (302-295 – 597, +29)
T6. New Mexico (292-305 – 597, +29)
8. UAB (309-290 – 599, +31)
9. Michigan State (300-302 – 602, +34)
10. Notre Dame (302-305 – 607, +39)
11. Nebraska (303-305 – 608, +40)
12. Central Arkansas (312-305 – 617, +49)
13. San Francisco (321-298 – 619, +51)
14. Minnesota 'B' (314-310 – 624, +56)
15. Saint John's MN (317-326 – 643, +75)
PLAYER LEADERBOARD – INDIVIDUAL LEADER (after 1 of 2 days/2 of 3 rounds, 36 of 54 holes)
1. Victor Wiggins (Charlotte) 68-69 – 137 (-5)
PLAYER LEADERBOARD – CAL INDIVIDUALS (after 1 of 2 days/2 of 3 rounds, 36 of 54 holes)
T4. Keelan Kilpatrick 67-75 – 142 (E)
T16. Walker Huddy 76-71 – 147 (+5)
T16. KK Limbhasut 77-70 – 147 (+5)
T27. Cameron Shaw 77-73 – 150 (+8)
T35. Shotaro Ban 73-79 – 152 (+10)
