UCLA
@ NCAA Championship (USC)
Bruins Advance to Match Play at NCAA Championship
May 31, 2012 | Men's Golf
May 31, 2012
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Riding sophomore Patrick Cantlay's hot putter, fifth-seeded UCLA advanced to match at the NCAA Championship Thursday at Riviera Country Club.
The Bruins posted their best team score of the tournament in the third round -- a sparkling one-over par 285 -- for a three-round total of 861 (+9). They finished as the runner-up behind Alabama, which finished with a three-day team score of 859 (+7). In third place at 869 (+17) was Texas, tied for fourth were Cal and San Diego State at 871 (+19), followed by Washington in sixth place at 872 (+20). Oregon finished seventh at 873 (+21). Tied for eighth were Kent State and Florida State at 875 (+23), and they will play off Friday at 8 a.m. to determine which team will advance to match play and meet Alabama.
UCLA will meet Oregon Friday in the first round of match play, where only winners survive.
Individually for the Bruins, Cantlay posted the low round of the tournament -- a five-under par 66 -- to vault into a tie for fourth place at 212 (-1) and secure UCLA's berth into the match play bracket.
The 20-year old from Los Alamitos was one-under on the outward nine with birdies at Nos. 2 and 9. On the inward side, he recorded five birdies and a bogey, including four birds on his last five holes and three straight coming home (Nos. 16-18).
Not to be overlooked was junior Pedro Figueiredo, who carded a cool 69 (-2) to tie for 13th at 215 (+2). Figueiredo played the front side in even par with three birdies and three bogeys, and came to the clubhouse with birds at Nos. 10, 11 and 14 for a 34 (-2).
Also finishing in a tie for 13th was sophomore Anton Arboleda, who closed with a 76 (+4). Arboleda was one-over on the front side with a birdie at No.1, but had four bogeys on the inward nine.
Senior Alex Shi Yup Kim eagled the first hole, triple-bogeyed the fifth, birdied the sixth and was two over on the front side. He played the back nine in one-over with a pair of birdies for a 74 (+3) and finished in a tie for 54th.
The struggles continued for junior Pontus Widegren, who was even on the front side, only to make six bogeys on the back, including four straight on holes (13-16). His 77 (+6) left him in a tie for 120th.
For the complete scores, results and tee times click here.
