Monday, April 22
Eugene, OR
7:15 AM
University of Oregon
vs
Pac-12 Championships
Photo by: @EricEvansPhoto
Young Ducks Set Tone At Pac-12s
04/22/19 | Men's Golf
Oregon's underclassmen led the way for the Ducks on Monday in the opening 36 holes of the Pac-12 Championship tournament at Eugene Country Club.
EUGENE, Ore. — Young Ducks were unfazed by the championship stage Monday, with freshman Craig Ronne and sophomore Donald Kay setting the pace for the UO men's golf team on the opening day of the Pac-12 Championship tournament.
Playing at the par-71, 7,044-yard Eugene Country Club, the host Ducks were 9 over in the opening round but rallied over the second round of the 36-hole day, going 2 under as a team for the second 18 holes. Kay shot 3-under 68 and Ronne carded a 2-under 69 in the second round, helping the Ducks finish the day 7 over as a team (364-353—717), tied for sixth in the team standings.
Oregon will begin the third round Tuesday from the first tee beginning at 10 a.m. The Ducks are paired with fifth-place Utah and fourth-place USC on moving day, with the final 18 holes scheduled for Wednesday.
How It Happened: All but two teams improved from the first round to the second Monday, including Oregon. Ronne led the Ducks in the opening round with an even-par 71, making two birdies with two bogeys. Yin Ho Yue carded an eagle on the 548-yard, par-5 sixth hole on his way to a first-round 72.
Kay was one of three Ducks who shot 3-over 74 in the first round, but he quickly got back to even in the afternoon. With the UO men starting their second round from the 10th tee, Kay made three straights birdies beginning at No. 11, and he shot even par over the final 14 holes to finish the round at 3 under.
Ronne also started well in the second round, with back-to-back birdies at No. 13 and No. 14, and two more at No. 16 and No. 17. Yue dug himself a whole with three bogeys on his opening nine of the second round, but after the turn he made birdie at No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4, finishing the round at 1-over 72.
Tom Gueant shot even par in the second round to contribute to the Ducks' team score. Seniors Ryan Gronlund and Edwin Yi battled all day, with Gronlund carding a 73-73—146 and Yi scoring 74-74—148. Gronlund's iron play provided him birdie chances at No. 6, No. 7 and No. 8 late in the day, but his putts wouldn't drop.
Quotable:
UO coach Casey Martin
On the play of his underclassmen
"Very encouraged by my freshmen and Donald — they played really well in the afternoon, battled, and that's very encouraging. Obviously, Ed and Ryan didn't have their best stuff, which we really need them to have. They've carried us most of the year so that's, you know, timing's everything, but hopefully we can get on all cylinders tomorrow and make a run."
On Gronlund's late birdie chances
"Law of averages hopefully will round out tomorrow, you know. But certainly, Ryan hits the ball very well. So, you know, that's not uncommon because he does get a lot of looks because he's a good ball striker. But hopefully we can bury some of those tomorrow and we can get some good mojo going."
Up Next: Yi goes off the first tee Tuesday at 10 a.m., followed in 11-minute increments by Gronlund, Gueant, Yue, Kay and Ronne.
Playing at the par-71, 7,044-yard Eugene Country Club, the host Ducks were 9 over in the opening round but rallied over the second round of the 36-hole day, going 2 under as a team for the second 18 holes. Kay shot 3-under 68 and Ronne carded a 2-under 69 in the second round, helping the Ducks finish the day 7 over as a team (364-353—717), tied for sixth in the team standings.
Oregon will begin the third round Tuesday from the first tee beginning at 10 a.m. The Ducks are paired with fifth-place Utah and fourth-place USC on moving day, with the final 18 holes scheduled for Wednesday.
How It Happened: All but two teams improved from the first round to the second Monday, including Oregon. Ronne led the Ducks in the opening round with an even-par 71, making two birdies with two bogeys. Yin Ho Yue carded an eagle on the 548-yard, par-5 sixth hole on his way to a first-round 72.
Kay was one of three Ducks who shot 3-over 74 in the first round, but he quickly got back to even in the afternoon. With the UO men starting their second round from the 10th tee, Kay made three straights birdies beginning at No. 11, and he shot even par over the final 14 holes to finish the round at 3 under.
Ronne also started well in the second round, with back-to-back birdies at No. 13 and No. 14, and two more at No. 16 and No. 17. Yue dug himself a whole with three bogeys on his opening nine of the second round, but after the turn he made birdie at No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4, finishing the round at 1-over 72.
Tom Gueant shot even par in the second round to contribute to the Ducks' team score. Seniors Ryan Gronlund and Edwin Yi battled all day, with Gronlund carding a 73-73—146 and Yi scoring 74-74—148. Gronlund's iron play provided him birdie chances at No. 6, No. 7 and No. 8 late in the day, but his putts wouldn't drop.
Quotable:
UO coach Casey Martin
On the play of his underclassmen
"Very encouraged by my freshmen and Donald — they played really well in the afternoon, battled, and that's very encouraging. Obviously, Ed and Ryan didn't have their best stuff, which we really need them to have. They've carried us most of the year so that's, you know, timing's everything, but hopefully we can get on all cylinders tomorrow and make a run."
On Gronlund's late birdie chances
"Law of averages hopefully will round out tomorrow, you know. But certainly, Ryan hits the ball very well. So, you know, that's not uncommon because he does get a lot of looks because he's a good ball striker. But hopefully we can bury some of those tomorrow and we can get some good mojo going."
Up Next: Yi goes off the first tee Tuesday at 10 a.m., followed in 11-minute increments by Gronlund, Gueant, Yue, Kay and Ronne.
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