Bulldogs Johnsen Fifth In WCC Men's Golf Championship
4/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
April 18, 2011
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HOLLISTER, Calif. - Sophomore Travis Johnsen matched his season-best with a second-round 3-under par 69 Monday to give him a 36-hole score of 142 and fifth place heading into Tuesday's final round of the West Coast Conference Championship. The tourney is being played at the 6,712-yard, par 72 San Juan Oaks Golf
Club.
Freshman Peter Gullickson shot 71-75 for a 146 and a tie for 13th as the youngsters carried the day for the Bulldogs.
Junior Oliver Grabb had a pair of 76s for 152 and a tie for 26th and senior Francis Santiago came back with a second-round 77 after an opening-round 84 for 161. Senior Kyle Huus struggled with rounds of 80-82 for 162.
Johnsen, playing in his first WCC Championship, had five birdies and two bogeys in his second round, including birdie 4s on the 538-yard second hole and the 523-yard 15th.
"Travis played really well today. His second round was huge in keeping the team in a position to tie or improve our best finish ever," Gonzaga head coach Robert Gray said. "He's also put himself in a position to win this week. He'll need to play really well tomorrow and get some help, but it's a possibility. An individual victory brings a birth into the NCAA Regional and that would be an awesome thing for him."
Gullickson eagled the 489-yard, par 5 ninth hole to go with a birdie and two bogeys in his opening round 1-under par.
"Peter hit the ball great all day, but the putter really frustrated him. If he can get the putts to fall Tuesday, he'll post a great score," Gray noted. " It was also great to see Oliver continue with his consistency from last week. He continues to improve and has been an important part of our improved consistency."
The Bulldogs, who have never finished higher than fifth in the WCC Championship, shot 300-297 for a 36-hole total of 597 and a 4-shot lead over the University of Portland. Gonzaga trails fourth-place University of San Diego by 12 shots. The Bulldogs tied for fifth in the 2009 championship.
"After seeing the course in the practice round, we knew the front side would be the side to score well on. We played the front nine at 1-under for the two rounds so we lost all our shots on the back side. We're in 5th place, which ties our best finish at this event. We've got to go out and play well tomorrow if we're going to maintain our position and possibly move up," Gray said.
The University of San Francisco holds the team lead at 565 for a 10-shot advantage over Pepperdine University. The Dons Taylor Travis shot 68-69 for 137 and a 2-shot lead over teammate Ji Hwan Park who shot 70-69.
