Men's Golf Has Renewed Confidence For WCC Championship
4/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
April 17, 2011
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University's men's golf team brings a renewed confidence into the West Coast Conference Championship to be played Monday and Tuesday at San Juan Oaks Golf Club in Hollister, Calif.
Senior Kyle Huus is one of the reasons the Bulldogs enter the championship with momentum. Although he has suffered throughout the season with shoulder discomfort, Huus put together his best outing the year last week as he finished in a three-way tie for fourth at the Braveheart Classic. He had rounds of 73-69-74 for a 54-hole score of 216 over the 7,003-yard, par 72 Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont, Calif.
His effort helped the Bulldogs to a sixth-place finish, four strokes out of fourth.
In addition to Huus, the Bulldogs got solid outings from true freshman Peter Gullickson, sophomore Travis Johnsen and junior Oliver Grabb at the Braveheart Classic.
Gullickson shot a final-round 70 for his best round of the tournament to finish in a three-way tie for seventh at 217 after opening rounds of 72-75. Grabb, who has struggled most of the season, opened with a pair of 73's and came in with a final-round 77 to finish in a three-way tie for 23rd. Johnsen battled back from an opening-round 81 to shoot 75-74 the final two rounds.
"Coming off our last event, confidence is higher than it's been in awhile and we're playing smarter," Bulldog head coach Robert Gray said. "Not having seen the course before, it's hard to say how it fits our games. Our next goal would be to have our best team finish."
The WCC Championship is being held at San Juan Oaks Golf Club for the first time after spending the past two years at Hiddenbrooke Golf Club in Vallejo, Calif.
Gonzaga finished fifth in 2009 for its best finish ever. The Bulldogs were sixth a year ago. Huus finished 17th last year to lead the Bulldogs. Huus and Derek Cheney tied for fifth in 2009 for the best individual finish by the Bulldogs.
Gray knows his squad will have to have its best outing of the year to claim victory.
"San Diego and Pepperdine are the two favorites. Obviously, we want to win but we'll need to play to our full potential to have any chance at a victory," Gray said. "On the individual side, the winner gets a ticket to regional. So much needs to happen for that to become a reality for anyone in the conference. What our guys need to do is just play their games on the first day and see where things stack up."
Francis Santiago will join Huus as the only Bulldog seniors.
"You always want your seniors to go out playing well," Gray said. "It might be their last chance to tee it up for the Bulldogs."
The tournament format calls for 36 holes Monday and the final 18-hole round Tuesday. The course will play 6,912 yards to par 72.
