LaVoie Shoots Another 72 to Make Cut at NCAA Golf Championships

OWINGS MILLS, Md. ? If consistency counts, then Gregg LaVoie has been right on the money.

The Oregon junior called upon his putting skills to shoot his third straight 2-over 72 Friday at the NCAA Men's Golf Championships and made the cut for Saturday's final round -- one of only six individuals to do so.

LaVoie was one of the big movers Friday, climbing 20 spots to a tie for 17th at 6-over 216 in spite of a soaking rain at the par-70, 7,131-yard Caves Valley Golf Club.

"The weather made the course play really long," said LaVoie. "But fortunately, the putter was working for me. I think I made just about every putt that was realistic for me to make. I dropped a lot of 10-footers.

"It's really exciting to make the cut at the NCAA Championships and get to play the final round," said LaVoie, who is vying to become the first Duck to finish in the top 30 at the NCAA Championships since his brother Ryan tied for 23rd in 1999. "You spend the whole year to get to this point and I'm just going to try to keep doing what's been successful for me."

Starting his round on the back nine, the Pasco, Wash., native bogeyed the 11th, 17th and 18 holes, countering his rough start only with a birdie on the par-4 14th. However, LaVoie steadied himself on his last nine, with seven pars, a birdie on No. 1 and a bogey on No. 7.

"Gregg had to play in a pretty good rainstorm," said Oregon coach Steve Nosler, "It was really wet this morning. He didn't hit but four or five greens all day. However, I'd say he did a near-miraculous job of putting."

The field was cut in half following Friday's action, with the top 15 teams and an additional six individuals moving on to Saturday's final round.

"A lot of guys were hitting three and four irons for their second shots, where the first two days we could hit a five iron in," said LaVoie. "You're going to miss a lot of greens when you have to hit longer irons, and that's what happened today."

Pepperdine's Michael Putnam continued to lead the tournament, holding on to his one shot over Major Manning of Augusta State and Roberto Castro of Georgia Tech. Putnam fired a 3-over 73 Friday to stand at 3-under 207 for the tournament. Castro shot a 1-over 71, while Manning had a 73 and both players were tied at 2-under 208.

Georgia strengthened its lead in the team race by shooting a 17-over 297. The Bulldogs had an 855 three-round total, and led Georgia Tech (864) by nine strokes. USC was third at 875, while Nevada-Las Vegas was fourth at 876.

NCAA Championships

Caves Valley Golf Club

Owings Mills, Md.

Third Round

7,131 yards, par 70

(complete results available at www.golfstat.com)

OREGON INDIVIDUAL ? T17, Gregg LaVoie, 72-72-72-216.

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