University of Oregon
Oregon Duck Invitational
Seniors Have Oregon in Contention at Duck Invitational
03/24/08 | Men's Golf
EUGENE, Ore. ? The California schools didn't seem to mind the cool weather Monday at Emerald Valley Golf Course. The three Golden State colleges joined host Oregon among the top four teams following the first two rounds of the 20th annual Oregon Duck Invitational, played at the par-72, 7,093 Emerald Valley course.
Despite overcast but dry conditions that saw the temperature top out at 51 degrees, San Diego State rocketed to the lead at 5-over 581, followed by Pacific at 586, Oregon at 590 and UC Davis at 592. Oregon last won its own tournament in 2002.
The host Ducks used strong performances from seniors Joey Benedetti and Derek Sipe to crawl into the top three. Benedetti went 73-71 to stand tied for third overall at even-par 144. He was one of only four players at par or better on Monday. In the second round, the Huntington Beach, Calif., native helped himself with a nifty birdie on the par-5 seventh. He knocked a pitching wedge from 100 yards out to within 18 inches and tapped in for birdie.
Following an opening round 75, Sipe battled to an even par 72 in the afternoon that left him tied for ninth at 3-over 147. He had five birdies, five bogeys and eight pars in making his way to level par.
In the team race, San Diego State got even rounds of 71-70 from Aaron Goldberg to pace the two most consistent rounds of the day, 292-289. The Aztecs are trying to win the Duck Invitational for the fourth time. SDSU was also victorious in 2006, 2004 and 2001. If the Aztecs hold on Tuesday, they would join Oregon and Washington as four-time champions of the event.
Pacific's T.J. Bordeaux shot back-to-back rounds of 68 in taking an impressive five stroke lead in the individual race. Of the four rounds in the 60s Monday, Bordeaux had two. His 8-under 136 total was five shots better than SDSU's Goldberg and eight ahead of Benedetti and Oregon State's Vincent Johnson (76-68). Johnson and Washington State's Nick Ellis, who carded a second round 69, were the other two golfers besides Bordeaux to record rounds in the 60s.
Bordeaux helped Pacific shoot a tournament-best 285 in the opening round before the Tigers fell back to 301 in round two.
Ten shots separated the teams between third and 10th place. The Ducks were third at 590 with UC Davis close at 592, Arkansas fifth at 593 and Oregon State and Washington State tied for sixth at 594. Washington was eighth at 595, followed by Portland (597) and Idaho (600).
Sean Maekawa of Oregon provided one of the tournament's first round highlights. Though he struggled most of the day, Maekawa recorded a hole in one on the 211-yard, par-3 11th hole. It was the first ace in collegiate competition for Oregon since Mike Sica's ace in the 2003 NCAA West Regional that eventually helped the Ducks advance to the national championships. Maekawa, a freshman from Pa'auilo, Hawaii, had rounds of 78-75 and was tied for 41st at 153.
Also for Oregon, freshman Eric Grimberg, competing as an individual, had rounds of 77-71 and was tied for 16th at 4-over 148.
Tuesday's final round will begin at 8 a.m. Admission is free.
Oregon Duck Invitational
Emerald Valley Golf Course
Creswell, Ore.
7,073-yards, par-72
First & Second Rounds
Team Scores
1, San Diego State, 292-289-581. 2, Pacific, 285-301-586.
3, Oregon, 298-292-590. 4, UC Davis, 297-295-592. 5, Arkansas, 296-297-593. T6, Oregon State, 299-295-594; Washington State, 309-285-594. 8, Washington, 304-291-595. 9, Portland, 299-298-597. 10, Idaho, 296-304-600. 11, Northern Colorado, 333-313-646.
Top Individuals
1, T.J. Bordeaux, Pacific, 68-68-136. 2, Aaron Goldberg, San Diego State, 71-70-141. T3, Joey Benedetti, Oregon, 73-71-144; Vincent Johnson (I), Oregon State, 76-68-144. T5, Jordan Mason, Washington State, 73-72-145; Sam Chavez, Arkansas, 73-72-145; Colter Kautzmann, Idaho, 73-72-145; Tze Huang Choo, Washington, 74-71-145.
T9, Derek Sipe, Oregon, 75-72-147; Tyler Simpson, Oregon State, 74-73-147; Ben Weyland, Idaho, 72-75-147; Nick Ellis, Washington State, 78-69-147; Ramie Sprinkling, UC Davis, 74-73-147; Johan Carlsson, San Diego State, 74-73-147; Joel Johnson, Portland, 75-72-147.
Other Oregon Individuals
T16, Eric Grimberg (I), 77-71-148. T28, Jack Dukeminier, 76-74-150. T33, Isaiah Telles, 74-77-151; Jordan Sweet (I), 76-75-151. T37, Ted Whitney (I), 76-76-152. T41, Sean Maekawa, 78-75-153. T52, Matt Jacobsen (I), 79-77-156; Zeke Reyna (I), 74-82-156.
(I) - Competing as an individual.
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Players Mentioned
