SHUHEI MATSUO
Assistant Sports Editor
After seeing their former teammate Michael Putnam shine at the last week’s PGA Tour event, Buick Invitational in San Diego, Pepperdine men golfers began their first tournament of the spring season action Monday in Tucson, Ariz.
However, the Waves did not find themselves up on the leader board like the former All-American Wave did. Pepperdine finished the tournament ninth after carding a final-round 10-over par 294 at the 16-team PING Arizona Intercollegiate at the par-71, 6,793-yard Arizona National Golf Club.
“I wish the team played a little better,” said junior Jesse Barnsley, who led Pepperdine, shooting a closing-round 3-over par 74 to finish at 5-under par 208. “But it was good overall.”
Barnsley started the final round at 8-under, tying for fourth, but he dropped three shots during the rainy round Tuesday.
“It feels good to play well, but it was a disappointing finish,” he said. “I left a lot of shots and didn’t get to keep the momentum.”
While Barnsley shot the team’s best score, Arizona’s Brian Prouty claimed individual medalist honors with a 14-under par 199 to register a four-shot win over New Mexico’s Charlie Beljan and East Tennessee State’s Seamus Power.
The overall title went to UNLV, a team that shot a 23-under par 829 to finish four shots ahead of Brigham Young’s 833. Host Arizona (840) placed third while Tennessee (841) and UC Irvine (842) rounded out the top five.
This tournament was not only the first event in this spring season, but it was also the first college tournament for freshman Andrew Widmar.
“I was obviously nervous for the first few holes,” said Widmar, who made the team as a walk-on in September. “I didn’t know what to expect but found my rhythm in the middle of the first round.”
He registered an even-par 71 for his first collegiate round Monday but shot 5-over during Tuesday’s 36 holes and tied for 41st in the tournament.
Widmar said he thinks playing at this tournament makes him and his teammates prepare for upcoming events.
“I definitely think developing freshman is really important,” he said. “I think if freshmen start gaining some experience, we are going to be really good in a couple of years or who knows, maybe this year, we are going to be tough to beat.”
Echoing his teammate, Barnsley said he is looking forward to a bright season.
“I’d like to see a win under our belt,” he said. “Our ultimate goal is to win conference and make it to the national.”
The Waves are back in action Feb. 18 when they compete at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate in Jacksonville, Fla.
02-01-2007
