Trevor Werbylo had the best day for the Wildcats (Arizona/Twitter photo)
Arizona leapfrogged the in-state competition on Tuesday at its home track to win the Arizona Intercollegiate, the first college-golf tournament of the season. The Wildcats were five shots off the pace to start the final 18 holes but went 21 under at Sewailo Golf Club in Tucson, Ariz., to win by three.
That Arizona went 21 under in 18 holes is most remarkable considering that it took Arizona State 36 holes to do the same thing on Monday. The Wildcats got to 37 under for the tournament, which matches a program record that dates to the 1992 John Burns Intercollegiate and was repeated at the 2006 West Regional.
That kind of scoring also allowed Arizona to win its home tournament for the second year in a row.
“Our team was simply outstanding today," head coach Jim Anderson said. "They demonstrated so many qualities that we talk about to be a championship team. They were patient, resilient, focused, competitive and confident. It was very simply, one of those days where where you just want to get out of their way.
This marks Anderson's second team win since taking over as coach in 2012.
Trevor Werbylo led the Arizona charge with a 6-under 66, and three other teammates added 66 including Brad Reeves, Briggs Duce and Ethan Marcus.
First-round leader Arizona came back with a 13-under 271 on Tuesday and still got left in the dust, finishing three shots behind Arizona.
St. Mary’s (Calif.) earned important head-to-head victories by finishing in solo third at 21 under.
Iowa State and Texas A&M tied for fourth at 20 under.
In the individual race, Texas A&M’s Chandler Phillips added a final-round 64 after opening rounds of 67 and 63 and reached 19 under for the tournament. It left him eight shots ahead of Werbylo and Loyola Marymount’s Riley Elmes in second.
ABOUT THE
Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate
54 hole men's college tournament hosted by the
University of Arizona. Team and individual
competitions, with the best four of five rounds each
day
comprising the team score.
View Complete Tournament Information