Monday, May 1
Goleta, Calif.
All Day
California State University at Northridge
at
Big West Championship
Photo by: Eric Isaacs
Mory in the Lead, CSUN Fourth at Big West Championship
5/1/2017 7:34:00 PM | Men's Golf
NORTHRIDGE, CA - Seeking CSUN's first individual conference title in 17 years, junior Felix Mory holds the lead after the opening round of the Big West Championship Monday at Sandpiper Golf Club in Goleta, CA.
The Matadors also excelled in the team competition as they are fourth in the nine-team field after carding a first round four-under 284. CSUN's 284 is the lowest by a Matador squad since the 2011 team fired a second round 283 at the conference championship at Mission Viejo C.C.
In 16 seasons in the Big West Conference, CSUN has posted a team round of 284 or better only three times. The Matadors head into round two on Tuesday just two shots off the pace set by a trio of teams (Cal Poly, UC Santa Barbara, Long Beach State) who are at six-under 282.
"We know we're talented enough to compete for a conference championship," said CSUN head coach Jim Bracken. "We talked before the tournament about believing how good you can be and the guys were confident and hit it well today. But we can't get ahead of ourselves, we've got to bring the same approach and play the same game tomorrow."
Mory, who won the OGIO UCSB Intercollegiate on the same golf course in 2016, will carry a one-shot lead into the second round after firing a four-under 68.
Mory's day got off to a spectacular start as he eagled the par five first hole. After nine holes, he was still at two-under after a pair of birdies and a pair of bogeys. Then after a bogey four at No. 11, Mory birdied four of the next six holes to get to five-under before a bogey four at the 18th hole left him at four-under 68.Â
Mory's 68 is the lowest round by a CSUN player at the Big West Championship since Nick Delio fired a 67 in the second round in 2011.
Making his conference championship debut, Tomas Skajem is also in the top 10 as the CSUN sophomore blistered the back nine with five birdies. Skajem was two-over through nine holes before a birdie at No. 10 propelled him to four more birdies on his way to a three-under 33 on the back nine. Skajem heads into the second round tied for 10th at one-under 71 which matches his low round of the season.
In his second conference championship, Sam Engel carded his low round with an even-par 72 on Monday. Engel was two-over after four holes before an eagle at No. 5 and a birdie at No. 9 sent him to the back nine at one-under. Engel was still one-under through 15 before a pair of bogeys sandwiched around a birdie at No. 17 left the senior tied for 17th.
Junior Trym Falch is one more shot back as he is tied for 24th at one-over 73. Falch was one-under after a pair of birdies on the front nine before finishing with all pars and two bogeys on the back nine. Senior Tavit Garabedian rounded out the CSUN squad as he is tied for 29th at two-over 74. Garabedian birdied the opening hole before posting pars and three bogeys over the final 17 holes.
The Matadors will be paired with UC Riverside and Hawai'i again in round two as the three teams will tee off at 1:10 p.m.
Big West Men's Championship
Sandpiper Golf Club
Goleta, Calif.
Par 72 • 7,087 Yards
T1. Cal Poly - 282
T1. UC Santa Barbara - 282
T1. Long Beach State - 282
4. CSUN - 284
5. UC Riverside - 288
T6. UC Irvine - 292
T6. UC Davis - 292
8. Cal State Fullerton - 300
9. Hawai'i - 301
#GoMatadors
The Matadors also excelled in the team competition as they are fourth in the nine-team field after carding a first round four-under 284. CSUN's 284 is the lowest by a Matador squad since the 2011 team fired a second round 283 at the conference championship at Mission Viejo C.C.
In 16 seasons in the Big West Conference, CSUN has posted a team round of 284 or better only three times. The Matadors head into round two on Tuesday just two shots off the pace set by a trio of teams (Cal Poly, UC Santa Barbara, Long Beach State) who are at six-under 282.
"We know we're talented enough to compete for a conference championship," said CSUN head coach Jim Bracken. "We talked before the tournament about believing how good you can be and the guys were confident and hit it well today. But we can't get ahead of ourselves, we've got to bring the same approach and play the same game tomorrow."
Mory, who won the OGIO UCSB Intercollegiate on the same golf course in 2016, will carry a one-shot lead into the second round after firing a four-under 68.
Mory's day got off to a spectacular start as he eagled the par five first hole. After nine holes, he was still at two-under after a pair of birdies and a pair of bogeys. Then after a bogey four at No. 11, Mory birdied four of the next six holes to get to five-under before a bogey four at the 18th hole left him at four-under 68.Â
Mory's 68 is the lowest round by a CSUN player at the Big West Championship since Nick Delio fired a 67 in the second round in 2011.
Making his conference championship debut, Tomas Skajem is also in the top 10 as the CSUN sophomore blistered the back nine with five birdies. Skajem was two-over through nine holes before a birdie at No. 10 propelled him to four more birdies on his way to a three-under 33 on the back nine. Skajem heads into the second round tied for 10th at one-under 71 which matches his low round of the season.
In his second conference championship, Sam Engel carded his low round with an even-par 72 on Monday. Engel was two-over after four holes before an eagle at No. 5 and a birdie at No. 9 sent him to the back nine at one-under. Engel was still one-under through 15 before a pair of bogeys sandwiched around a birdie at No. 17 left the senior tied for 17th.
Junior Trym Falch is one more shot back as he is tied for 24th at one-over 73. Falch was one-under after a pair of birdies on the front nine before finishing with all pars and two bogeys on the back nine. Senior Tavit Garabedian rounded out the CSUN squad as he is tied for 29th at two-over 74. Garabedian birdied the opening hole before posting pars and three bogeys over the final 17 holes.
The Matadors will be paired with UC Riverside and Hawai'i again in round two as the three teams will tee off at 1:10 p.m.
Big West Men's Championship
Sandpiper Golf Club
Goleta, Calif.
Par 72 • 7,087 Yards
T1. Cal Poly - 282
T1. UC Santa Barbara - 282
T1. Long Beach State - 282
4. CSUN - 284
5. UC Riverside - 288
T6. UC Irvine - 292
T6. UC Davis - 292
8. Cal State Fullerton - 300
9. Hawai'i - 301
#GoMatadors
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