University of Oregon
USC Collegiate Invitational
Ducks Complete Strong Showing at USC Invite
03/02/11 | Men's Golf
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- The University of Oregon men's golf team was unable to defend it's 2010 team and individual titles at the USC Collegiate Invitational, but the Ducks were impressive none the less, completing their best showing of the season with a third-place finish in the 15-team, 54-hole event at North Ranch C.C.
Oregon shot 9-over 861, trailing only champion San Diego State (850) and No. 1 ranked UCLA (852). The Ducks outperformed five Pac-10 schools as well as five teams ranked in the top 25.
UO's No. 5 golfer, Andrew Vijarro, ended up as the team's low man in a different way, tying for 14th overall at 2-over (71-73-71-215). The junior from Bend paced four Ducks among the top 24 at the 6,869-yard, par 71 course.
Daniel Miernicki (72-74-70-216) and Eugene Wong (72-70-74-216), Oregon's 1-2, tied for 19th at 3-over, and Round 1 co-leader Robbie Ziegler (67-72-78-217) still managed a tie for 24th at 4-over, despite a final round 78.
Jack Dukeminier (76-73-76-225) finished tied for 51st in the 80-man field at 12-over.
UCLA's Patrick Cantlay was the individual medalist, shooting 6-under 207. Wong won last year's USC Collegiate with a tournament-tying record 10-under par.
UO shot 2-under 282 in the opening round and 4-over 288 in Round 2, which was completed on Tuesday morning. Oregon began the final round in third place and didn't give up any ground, carding a 7-over 291
The Ducks, who began the fall ranked No. 1, had not placed better than seventh - at Cal's Alister MacKenzie Invitational in October - prior to Tuesday.
Head coach Casey Martin's team returns to the state of Oregon for its next event, the Bandon Dunes Championship hosted by Gonzaga on March 11 and 12.
Players Mentioned
