LAS VEGAS – Cal sophomore Collin Morikawa (66-71 – 137, -7) maintained a one-shot lead at the conclusion of second-round action at the prestigious Southern Highlands Collegiate after firing a one-under par 71 at the 7,374-yard Southern Highlands Golf Club on Tuesday. Morikawa is still looking for his first collegiate win despite 12 career top-10 finishes and 18 top-20 showings in his first 20 starts at Cal. He has led heading into the final round of a collegiate event only once previously at the Tavistock Collegiate Invitational in October of 2015.

"Being in the lead is a great feeling but the job isn't over," Morikawa said. "I still have to stick to my game plan and execute my shots tomorrow."

After a wildly impressive six-under par 66 that featured eight birdies in Monday's opening round, Morikawa spent most of his second round that started on the 10th hole Tuesday over par until back-to-back birdies on the par-four sixth and seventh holes put him in red for the first time before he finished his round with a pair of pars.

"The big turnaround for me today was making those two birdies on six and seven near the end of my round," Morikawa said. "It was a good to get a couple coming down the stretch and get in rhythm for tomorrow."

"His round yesterday was eye-popping but today was just as impressive," Alex and Marie Shipman Director of Men's Golf Walter Chun said. "The pins were in really tough spots and Collin handled himself well, staying patient and never forcing things. Yesterday, he showed his physical abilities. Today, he showed his mental toughness."

Wednesday's third and final-round action will begin with Morikawa holding his one-shot lead over USC's Justin Suh (70-68 – 138, -6) while Stanford's Maverick McNealy (67-73 – 140, -4) and Oklahoma State's Kristoffer Ventura (73-67 – 140, -4) will begin three shots off the pace.

Sean Yu (T53rd, 74-78 - 152, +8), William Aldred (T58th, 76-77 – 153, +9), Ben Doyle (T67th, 76-80 – 156, +12), and Tanner Hughes (T72nd, 80-77 – 157, +13) are the other players competing for the Bears.

Cal (292-303 – 595, +19) dropped four spots into a tie for 12th in the team standings of the event that features 10 teams ranked among the nation's top 25 among its 15-team field.

"Southern Highlands showed its teeth today, and it got the better of us," Chun said. "It was good to see the players not having their best and playing a tough golf course. It will help them learn how to handle that and manage themselves better the next time it happens because it's going to happen again and again. That's golf at the highest levels – making the most of rounds when you have your A game, B game and/or worse."

USC (278-291 – 569, -7) has a six-stroke lead on Stanford (281-294 – 575, -1) and Oklahoma State (286-289 – 575, -1) heading into the final 18 holes.

Wednesday's final 18 holes of action is scheduled to begin from holes No. 1 at 9 am PT. Cal is scheduled to start from the 10th hole at 10:20 am PT and will play in five threesomes along with golfers from Arizona State and San Diego State. Morikawa is scheduled to tee off at 11 am PT.
 
SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS COLLEGIATE (HOSTED BY UNLV)
LAS VEGAS, NV
SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS GOLF CLUB (PAR 72, 7374 YARDS)
 
TEAM LEADERBOARD (after 2 of 3 days/2 of 3 rounds/36 of 54 holes)
1. USC (278-291 – 569, -7)
T2. Stanford (281-294 – 575, -1)
T2. Oklahoma State (286-289 – 575, -1)
4. Pepperdine (282-297 – 579, +3)
T5. Texas Tech (293-287 – 580, +4)
T5. UNLV (288-292 – 580, +4)
7. SMU (287-296 – 583, +7)
8. Illinois (290-297 – 587, +11)
9. Oklahoma (292-297 – 589, +13)
10. TCU (294-296 – 590, +14)
11. New Mexico (296-296 – 592, +16)
T12. Florida (292-303 – 595, +19)
T12. Cal (292-303 – 595, +19)
14. Arizona State (304-296 – 600, +24)
15. San Diego State (307-300 – 607, +31)
 
PLAYER LEADERBOARD – INDIVIDUAL LEADER (after 2 of 3 days/2 of 3 rounds/36 of 54 holes)
1. Collin Morikawa – Cal (66-71 – 137, -7)
 
PLAYER LEADERBOARD – CAL INDIVIDUALS (after 2 of 3 days/2 of 3 rounds/36 of 54 holes)
1. Collin Morikawa (66-71 – 137, -7)
T53. Sean Yu (74-78 – 152, +8)
T61. William Aldred (76-77 – 153, +9)
T67. Ben Doyle (76-80 – 156, +12)
T72. Tanner Hughes (80-77 – 157, +13)