With a possible bid to the NCAA West Regionals on the line in the next four Duck tournaments, the Oregon men’s golf season seems to be coming together at the right moment.
For the first time in the spring portion of its 2002-03 season, the Ducks are in position to have a top-five finish. Currently, Oregon is tied with Pacific for fourth overall, after a 578 combined first and second round score.
The 57th annual Western Intercollegiate tournament is being hosted by the San Jose State Spartans at the 6,445-yard, par-70 Pasatiempo Golf Course in Santa Cruz, Calif.
The Ducks were led on Monday by senior Chris Carnahan, who currently is in a five-way tie for eighth place after shooting a 72 in the first round, followed by a two-over-par second round. Junior Mike Sica is currently tied for 16th overall at four-over-par, but shot a second round even par. Oregon is usually led by senior John Ellis, who shot an opening-round one-under-par 69, followed up with a seven-over-par 77 in the second round.
Redshirt freshman Kyle Johnson, who is making his first tournament appearance with varsity since the Oct. 7-8 Club Grove Intercollegiate, concluded the first and second rounds tied for 50th overall after shooting an 11-over 151. Johnson was added to the roster after finishing eighth overall two weeks ago in the Oregon Duck Invitational. Johnson competed as an independent, earning a spot on Oregon’s five-man varsity squad. Five Duck varsity members compete at a time.
Freshman Gregg LaVoie rounds out the scoring for the Ducks, currently tied at 57th overall after scoring a 12-over 152.
Leading the tournament is No. 10 UCLA, which currently holds a 13-stroke lead over current second place leader UC-Irvine, after shooting a team score three-over-par 563. Texas El Paso sits in third place, one stroke behind UC-Irvine.
The Ducks are currently two strokes behind UC-Irvine for second place, as UCLA has distanced themselves from the rest of the field.
Steve Conway of UCLA carded a 72 and 67 to pace the tournament-leading Bruins. However, Conway is currently tied with Texas El Paso’s Dan Swanson at one-under-par 139. All 13 competitors that are in the top-10 individually are only three strokes behind leaders Conway and Swanson.
Oregon finished last year’s tournament sixth overall and looks to keep its streak of three consecutive top-six finishes at this venue alive today. The final begins at 8 a.m.