USC
2011 NCAA Championships
No. 17 USC Ties For 12th At NCAA Championships
June 02, 2011 | Men's Golf
June 2, 2011
Just a handful of strokes away from continuing its pursuit of an NCAA crown, No. 17 USC couldn't generate any momentum during the third round of stroke play and was unable to claim one of the eight spots open for match play, its postseason surge ending with a tie for 12th at the 2011 NCAA Men's Golf Championships, Thursday (June 2), at Karsten Creek in Stillwater, Okla.
USC, in its fifth straight NCAA final, climbed to 10th after the second round, two strokes away from eighth. But the Trojans repeated their first-round score and finished the three-day stroke play portion of the NCAAs at 31-over 895 (303-289-203).
The top eight teams advancing to the three-round match play final that begins tomorrow include UCLA, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, Illinois, Georgia, Ohio State, defending champion Augusta State and Duke.
USC entered the NCAA Championships final stage having finished in the top 3 in five straight events, which included wins at the 2011 Pac-10 Championships and the ASU Thunderbird Invitational. Troy was also second at its NCAA regional.
That is why Trojan fifth-year head coach Chris Zambri was focusing on the big picture following today's disappointing third round.
"The coaching staff is very proud of the turnaround we had this season," Zambri said. "We plan on taking all the good that transpired the last two months and using it to spur us on to greatness next season. These guys came a long way this year."
Freshman Jeffrey Kang led the Trojans with a tie for 20th at 4-over 220 (72-73-75), his fifth top 23 mark in a row. He had four birdies during his round and was 1-under on the back 9 but posted bogeys on his final two holes.
Junior Steve Lim tied for 56th at 9-over 225 (78-72-75). He opened the front 9 at even, which included an eagle on the par 5 18th hole, but was 3-over on the back 9.
Sophomore Martin Trainer saw his streak of four straight top 7 finishes come to end with a tie for 66th at 10-over 226 (75-75-76). He began play with a double bogey en route to a 4-over front 9. He managed par over the final nine holes.
Sophomore T.J. Vogel tied for 113th at 17-over 233 (78-73-82). He struggled throughout the day, three birdies notwithstanding.
Sophomore Sam Smith, who was not part of the individual scoring after his first round was disqualified because he signed for an incorrect score, finished play with a 5-over 77. Outside of a nine on the par 5 1st hole, Smith had his second straight solid round.
USC will host the 2012 NCAA Championships, May 29 through June 3, at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades
Players Mentioned
