Freshman hot shots lead Arizona to title
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
WAHIAWA — To see the future of college golf, look straight down. The scores are going lower and the players are going lower younger.
Arizona defended its John Burns Intercollegiate title at Leilehua Golf Course yesterday with three freshmen. The Wildcats weathered a rare mediocre first round — the team had only six birdies — by playing the final two days in 28-under par. Their three-day total was 31-under 833 — four shots ahead of UNLV and seven better than second-round leader New Mexico.
Arizona is No. 28 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index, with UNLV 10th and UNM 17th.
The biggest surprise of the final round was that the Wildcats' 276 score was not lowest of the day. University of Hawai'i-Hilo — the tournament's only Division II entry — shot 14-under 274 and took 12th.
"That's our best competitive round," UHH coach Earl Tamiya said. "Honestly, I don't know what happened. It was scary."
Hilo freshman Troy Higashiyama, who won the state high school championship less than a year ago, closed with 67 to tie for 16th. Nick Mason, second last week at Waikoloa, shot 68 and was a shot back.
The Vulcans, ranked third nationally in D-II, finish their season against D-II opponents. UH-Manoa won its last fall tournament, but now has to rally from disappointing finishes the past two weeks and peak for the Western Athletic Conference Championships.
"I think that will be wide open," coach Ronn Miyashiro said. "No team stands out."
The Warriors closed with 285 — their best score of the week by 11 shots — to take 17th. Senior Matt Kodama (71—211) tied for 16th. His score was 10 better than any teammate except freshman Pierre-Henri Soero (74—215) from New Caledonia; Soero played for the UH "B" team. Kodama is ranked 44th nationally and was the WAC's Golfer of the Month in November. The reigning Nevada State Amateur champion had Top-10 finishes in all five fall tournaments.
Arizona had three in the Top 10 — freshmen Henry Liaw (71—206) and Nathan Tyler (67—209), and junior Nathan Lashley (67—208). They could not overcome New Mexico's Spencer Levin, who went wire-to-wire to win medalist honors with a 15-under 201 — three off the tournament record. Colorado State's Nolan Martin used the day's best round — 8-under 64 — to bolt into second at 202.
The Wildcats cruised in yesterday without using the par-72 score of senior Chris Nallen, who is ranked third in the country and next plays in the PGA Tour's Tucson Open. It wasn't needed with the other four golfers shooting par or better.
These days par does not appear daunting. The 20 teams at Leilehua averaged 1-over 73 for three days. A dozen teams finished under par, including Hilo.
"When Tiger Woods was here, it hasn't come that much lower," Hilo's Tamiya said. "But all the players moved down into the lower bracket. It's amazing. At Waikoloa last week there were hardly any 80s. Before there would be a bunch."
When Miyashiro was playing for Manoa seven years ago, he remembers 300 as a score that could put a team into the top five. That same score now is good for last.
"Obviously our field is very good," said Miyashiro, who has a huge waiting list of teams trying to get in. "But I'll be honest with you, it's like this at most of the tournaments we go to. It shows you what you have to do to keep up with the rest of the nation."
SHORT PUTTS: The Rainbow Wahine's Dr. Donnis Thompson Intercollegiate is next month. ... Champion Spencer Levin played the par-4's in a tournament-best 10-under.
Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8043.
