The Oregon Duck Invitational has become McArthur Court for the men’s and women’s golf teams.
The Oregon golf teams put up impressive numbers in successive weekends, when each team hosted its own version of the Oregon Duck Invitational.
The men most recently hosted the event, March 24 and 25 at the Eugene Country Club, and concluded their most impressive individual and team performance of the year. The Ducks finished the tournament in third place.
Oregon, led by first-place finisher and senior John Ellis, concluded the two-day tournament with a 3-over-par 867 for its highest finish since winning last season’s Duck Invitational. Ellis split the individual title with Washington’s Brock Mackenzie. Both All-Americans finished the tournament with a 9-under-par 207, while Ellis earned his first collegiate victory since his sophomore season, when he won the Husky Invitational. Ellis came from three strokes down to earn a first place tie after trailing Mackenzie, who shot an NCAA-record-tying 60 in Monday’s second round.
The Ducks will next compete in the Western Intercollegiate in Santa Cruz, Calif., April 7 and 8.
Women finish 17th
in California
The Oregon women’s golf team, coming off its best single round of the season when it hosted the Oregon Duck Invitational, finished 17th in the UCLA/Pioneer Electronics Classic, March 25 and 26. The Ducks shot a 320 in the final round at the 6,720-yard, par-72 Robinson Ranch Golf Club course and climbed one spot to finish 17th in the 20-team field.
The Ducks were led by freshman Michelle Timpani, who had Oregon’s best round Wednesday with a 77, to finish tied for 63rd at 242. Timpani was followed closely by sophomore Johnna Nealy, who finished two spots back at 65th overall at 243.
No. 2 Pepperdine won the team title with a combined score of 898 after trailing first-day leader USC by seven strokes. No. 5 USC finished second at 900.
Oregon barely edged Long Beach State by a two-stroke advantage and finished ahead of Portland State and Cal-State Northridge. Oregon finished with an overall team score of 973. The Ducks will travel to the Ping/Arizona State Invitational, held in Tempe, Ariz., starting Friday.
Scott Archer is a freelance writer
for the Emerald.