As the Pac-12 Preview came to an end at the Pumpkin Ridge course on Tuesday, the No. 25 University of Oregon men’s golf team found themselves in seventh place with a two-over final round. With the third event of the season now behind them, the Ducks (287-289-290-866) can hold their heads high, being a part of the six teams in the “Conference of Champions” ranked in the top 25 and are looking to continue their early-season success.@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205708701@@
The Pac-12 Preview was fierce, as the No. 1 California Golden Bears (285-273-277-835 (-29)) won the event by seven strokes over the No. 5 Washington Huskies (277-281-284-842 (-22)) after three rounds of play, proving the Pac-12 is in the top tier of conferences in the country. Following the Bears and Huskies, the No. 14 USC Trojans (283-278-282-843) in third and the No. 4 UCLA Bruins (291-285-279-855) coming in at fourth place.@@numbers checked@@
For the Ducks, it was freshman Eugene native Sulman Raza (67-71-73-211) leading the way once again, ending in a six-way tie for eighth place, making it his second-straight top-10 placing as he tied for 10th place in the St. Mary’s Invitational last week (72-74-71-217 (+1)). This was the second-straight time Raza paced the Ducks, shooting a sixth straight two-over round or better with a one-over 73 score Tuesday on the par-72, 7,017-yard course. In his final round of play, Raza carded three birdies (on holes #1, 6, 7); 12 par scores (#2, 4-5, 9-11, 13-18), two bogeys (#3, 8) and one double-bogey (#12) capping off another great event.
But it wasn’t all about the freshman Raza as sophomore Rak Cho finished second on his team (68-73-79-220) and 33rd overall with another top-two finish among his teammates. Cho has been playing exceptionally well thus far and with the best overall finish (6th) on his team in the season opener at the Kikkor Husky Invitational, the road ahead is looking good for the Ducks moving forward.
Other notable performances. With great performances from Raza and Cho it was easy to overlook their teammates, but the Ducks had solid outings from freshman Brandon McIver (76-75-71-222) who finished in a tie for 36th place, and redshirt seniors Robbie Ziegler (76-74-73-223), who tied for 39th place and Tyler Parker (81-71-73-225), who tied for 45th place, as they concluded their first real event playing not only their fellow Pac-12 competitors, but some of the best teams in the country.
On the horizon. Up next for the Ducks is the Alister MacKenzie Invitational at the Meadow Club in Fairfax, Calif., next Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 15-16.