PULLMAN, Wash. – Shotaro Ban (67-71 – 138, -2) spent most of the day near the top of the leaderboard Monday during the first 36 holes of the 2015 Pac-12 Championships before settling for a tied for sixth-place spot five shots behind second-round leader Maverick McNealy of Stanford (65-68 – 133, -7) at the end of the day's action.
Ban's teammate KK Limbhasut (70-69 – 139, -1) is another shot back in a tie for eighth, while Cal (359-361 – 720, +20) is eighth after being fourth following the first18 holes and reaching as high as second at one point of the event co-hosted by Washington State and the Pac-12 at the par-70, 7257-yard Palouse Ridge Golf Club.
USC (355-344 – 699, -1) is the team leader after two rounds and the only club under par halfway through the event.
Ban started his day with a bogey on the par-five 10th but would have only more bogey during his three-under par opening round that had him tied for third place after 18 holes. His second bogey came on the par-three sixth hole on his back nine but he immediately followed it up with his fifth birdie of the round on the par-four seventh. He had also previously made birdie on the par-four 14th, 17th and first holes, as well as the par-five fifth.
Ban started his second round on fire with birdies on the 10th, par-three 11th and par-four 15th holes. He was still three-under par for the round and six-under for the tournament through the first 11 holes of his second round before playing a five-hole stretch in five-over par with back-to-back bogeys on the par four-third and par-three third holes, another on the par-three sixth and a double on seven. He managed to rebound with a birdie on the par-four eighth and closed with a par on the par-four ninth.
“Honestly I played much better than I scored today,” Ban said. “I just want to make as many contributions for our team as I can over the next two rounds.”
“He had a tremendous first round and was very steady in the second round but as often happens on 36-hole days you can hit some wayward shots that will cost you,” head coach Steve Desimone said. “He hit a couple of loose shots that cost him down the stretch, but he was able to steady himself on the final two holes. I suspect he's going to come back really strong tomorrow and Wednesday. I like his chances of moving back up that leaderboard.”
Limbhasut matched Ban's nine birdies on the day with five in his first round (10, 12, 4, 5, 7) and four in his second (10, 15, 18, 4).
“The course was set up very difficult and there were not a lot of birdie opportunities today,” Limbhasut said. “But I hit it well and positioned myself very well on the greens.”
“His nickname should be Mr. Steady,” Desimone said. “He just plays the game and goes about his business. He knows the game and just does so many things right. It's great to watch him play.”
“With two rounds to go both Shotaro and KK are very much in the hunt,” Desimone added. “Both of those guys could throw a couple of good rounds in there and make a run at this thing.”
Keelan Kilpatrick (72-75 – 147, +7), Ben Doyle (73-75 – 148, +8) and Sebastian Crampton (77-71 – 148, +8) also scored for the Bears on Monday. Kilpatrick is tied for 41st after 36 holes, while Doyle and Crampton are both tied for 46th. Alexander Wilson played the opening round and shot an over 11-over par 81 before being unable to play the second round due to illness. Wilson is still eligible to play in the event's final two rounds and have his score count towards the team total.
Cameron Shaw had been scheduled to be in the team's lineup but did not make the trip also due to illness.
“This was a tough and obviously disappointing day, especially with the illnesses of Cameron [Shaw] and Alexander [Wilson],” Desimone said. “This is a great conference and when you're playing five against everyone else's six that is tough stuff.”
The final 36 holes of the tournament are scheduled to be split between Tuesday and Wednesday with action starting both days at 8 a.m. PDT. Cal's first tee time Wednesday is at 8 a.m., with Wednesday's tee times still to be determined.
PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIPS (CO-HOSTED BY PAC-12 AND WASHINGTON STATE)
PULLMAN, WAPALOUSE RIDGE GOLF CLUB (PAR 70, 7257 YARDS)
TEAM LEADERBOARD (after 1 of 3 days/2 of 4 rounds/36 of 72 holes)
1. USC (355-344 – 699, -1)
2. Arizona State (354-351 – 705, +5)
T3. Washington State (363-347 – 710, +10)
T3. Stanford (362-348 – 710, +10)
5. Washington (363-353 – 716, +16)
6. Oregon (357-360 – 717, +17)
7. Oregon State (361-357 – 718, +18)
8. Cal (359-361 – 720, +20)
9. UCLA (364-358 – 722, +22)
10. Arizona (372-364 – 736, +36)
11. Colorado (374-365 – 739, +39)
12. Utah (382-376 – 758, +58)
PLAYER LEADERBOARD – INDIVIDUAL LEADER (after 1 of 3 days/2 of 4 rounds/36 of 72 holes)
1. Maverick McNealy – Stanford (65-68 – 133, -7)
PLAYER LEADERBOARD – CAL INDIVIDUALS (after 1 of 3 days/2 of 4 rounds/36 of 72 holes)
