The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
NCAA Southwest Regional Championship
Vegas leads No. 1 Men's Golf on day two of NCAA Norman Regional Championship
05.18.2012 | Men's Golf
May 18, 2012
NORMAN, Okla. -- Despite wind gusts reaching 30 miles per hour during Friday's second round of the NCAA Norman Regional Championship, the No. 1 Texas Men's Golf team carded a respectable 5-over-par 293 and is in third place with a 36-hole total of 4-under 572 (279-293). Junior Julio Vegas (72-71=143, -1) led UT individually at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club with a 1-under 71 - the team's only subpar round of the day - and is tied for 10th place alongside teammate Jordan Spieth.
As a team, the Longhorns' four counting scorers were 4-under on the 18th hole in Friday's round. Senior Dylan Frittelli holed out for eagle with a chip-in from 45 feet, while Vegas and junior Cody Gribble sank 16 and 12-foot birdie putts, respectively.
The No. 1-seed Longhorns enter Saturday's final round seven shots ahead of the team cut line to advance to the NCAA Championship. Illinois (284-291=575, -1) and Georgia Tech (290-386=576, E) are in fourth and fifth places.
The low five teams and the low individual not on those teams from each of the six regionals will advance to the May 29-June 3 NCAA Championship at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. The Longhorns have successfully advanced from the NCAA regional to the NCAA Championships in each of the last five seasons.
Vegas battled throughout the day with an up-and-down scorecard that included five birdies and four bogeys en route to his team-best round. Frittelli's eagle finale dropped two strokes off his 4-over scorecard through 17 holes, and he is tied for 13th place at even-par 144 (70-74) alongside sophomore Toni Hakula (71-73).
Junior Cody Gribble (77-75=152, +8) moved up 17 positions on the leaderboard from a tie for 60th to a tie for 43rd with a 3-over 75 in the second round.
Washington fired a field-best 7-under 281 to surge atop the team leaderboard at 9-under 567 (286-281). Florida State (279-292) is in second place at 5-under 571.
Illinois' Thomas Pieters (68-69) leads the individual field at 7-under 137, six strokes ahead of Vegas and Spieth.
Texas is paired in the lead group alongside Washington and Florida State in Saturday's final round beginning at 8:40 a.m. off the first tee. Weather forecasts for the Norman-area predict continuous and gusty winds from the south reaching 25 to 35 mph throughout the day.
Team Standings (through two rounds)
1. Washington - 286-281=567 (-9)
2. Florida State - 279-292=571 (-5)
3. TEXAS - 279-293=572 (-4)
4. Illinois - 284-291=575 (-1)
5. Georgia Tech - 290-286=576 (E)
6. Oklahoma - 287-292=579 (+3)
7. St. Mary's (Calif.) - 286-302=588 (+12)
8. South Carolina - 294-302=596 (+20)
9. Sacramento State - 292-307=599 (+23)
10. Arizona - 289-311=600 (+24)
11. San Diego - 303-299=602 (+26)
12. IUPUI - 297-307=604 (+28)
13. Middle Tennessee State - 304-316=620 (+44)
14. Loyola U.-Chicago - 307-314=621 (+45)
Top-12 Individuals (through two rounds)
1. Thomas Pieters, Illinois - 68-69=137 (-7)
2. Daniel Berger, Florida State - 69-69=138 (-6)
3. Jonathan De Los Reye, St. Mary's (Calif.) - 71-68=139 (-5)
4. Cheng-Tsung Pan, Washington - 69-71=140 (-4)
T5. Ollie Schniederjans, Georgia Tech - 72-69=141 (-3)
T5. Chris Williams, Washington - 73-68=141 (-3)
T7. Charlie Hughes, Washington - 74-68=142 (-2)
T7. Luke Guthrie, Illinois - 69-73=142 (-2)
T7. Brooks Koepka, Florida State - 67-75=142 (-2)
T10. Jordan Spieth, TEXAS - 66-77=143 (-1)
T10. Julio Vegas, TEXAS - 72-71=143 (-1)
T10. James White, Georgia Tech - 69-74=143 (-1)
Additional Texas players
T13. Dylan Frittelli - 70-74=144 (E)
T13. Toni Hakula - 71-73=144 (E)
T43. Cody Gribble - 77-75=152 (+8)
POST-ROUND COMMENTS
Texas Head Coach John Fields
On Texas' second round at the NCAA Norman Regional Championship: It was definitely tougher out there today with the wind and the course setup. I think getting out in the last tee time wasn't the blessing it usually is because we were challenged all day by the wind. We felt like the guys fought through it, though, and remained focused on the finish. We just have to get back at it tomorrow and play well.
