Go posts Bucs’ lowest score on Wednesday; Kim finishes in top 20

LA QUINTA, Calif. (Feb. 21, 2018) – Led by junior Geuntae Kim (Daegu, South Korea), the ETSU men’s golf team wrapped up play at The Prestige at PGA West on Wednesday afternoon. Kim posted a top-20 finish, while the Buccaneers finished tied for eighth in the loaded 16-team field.

Kim shot consecutive rounds of 1-over-par 72 en route to placing tied for 18th at 2-over-par 144, marking the top finish by a Buccaneer. Kim recorded 23 pars and a team-best six birdies over the 36-hole tournament, with three coming on Wednesday. The reigning Southern Conference champion picked up back-to-back birdies on No. 9 and 10, while his final birdie of the round moved him to 1-under on the day. However, Kim bogeyed his final two holes, which moved him out of the top 10.  

As Kim led the Blue and Gold over 36 holes, freshman Shiso Go (Kanagawa, Japan) shot ETSU’s lowest round on Wednesday. Following his 77 in round one, Go overcame a double-bogey on the par-4, 470-yard No. 2 by firing an even-par 71 to move 27 spots up the leaderboard and finished tied for 36th at 6-over-par 148. After recording the double-bogey, Go strung together eight consecutive pars before totaling three birdies over a four-hole stretch to get back to even.

Individually, Pepperdine’s Clay Feagler went low on Wednesday to claim medalist honors. Feagler – who began the day two shots off the lead – fired a 5-under 66 to finish the tournament at 7-under-par 135. Feagler edged out No. 22 Norman Xiong of Oregon as he ended at 6-under-par 136 (68-68) and No. 65 Luis Gagne of LSU placed third at 4-under-par 138 (70-68).

Oklahoma State claimed the team championship as the top-ranked Cowboys won by one stroke over No. 43 Pepperdine and four strokes over No. 40 Oregon. Oklahoma State carded an even-par 284 in the final round to finish at 1-under-par 567 (283-284), while Pepperdine registered the lowest team score of the day at 1-under-par 283.

The Bucs were tied with No. 18 Southern Cal at 21-over-par 589, while the Blue and Gold placed ahead of No. 38 San Diego State (+33), No. 61 Notre Dame (+38) and No. 72 Washington (+36).

Freshman Jack Rhea (Jonesborough, Tenn.) finished tied for 21st at 3-over-par 145 (73-72), while freshman Austin Carter (Kingsport, Tenn.) placed tied for 68th and sophomore Trevor Hulbert (Orlando, Fla.) finished tied for 73rd.

Monday’s opening round was cancelled due to high winds, forcing the tournament to go to a 36-hole format.

The prestigious tournament featured eight teams ranked in the top-50 of either the Golfstat or Golfweek Rankings, including top-ranked Oklahoma State. Joining the Cowboys were No. 9 LSU, No. 10 Stanford, No. 18 Southern Cal, No. 38 San Diego State, No. 40 Oregon, No. 43 Pepperdine and No. 44 Northwestern.  

Individually, nine golfers in the field were ranked in the top-50 of either the Golfstat or Golfweek Rankings, including top-ranked Justin Suh of Southern Cal. In addition, four golfers were ranked in the top-10 and five in the top-25.

ETSU returns to competition on Saturday, March 10 when the Blue and Gold head to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for the General Hackler Championship.

For more information on Buccaneer men’s golf, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men’s golf page.