Huskies, Schneider Overcome Tough Conditions To Climb Leaderboard
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Washington men's golf team shot the second lowest round out of 20 teams in Tuesday's second round of the Lamkin Grips SD Classic and shot up five places on the leaderboard heading into Wednesday's final round.
The Huskies were anchored by Jan Schneider and Petr Hruby, who both carded 1-over 73 under extremely tough conditions.
"Today was an exceptionally tough day with strong winds and the pins being in some really tough spots," Coach Allan Murray said following his team's round of 7-over 295. "There was no place to hide and making pars was a real challenge."
The Huskies currently sit eighth overall with a two-day total of 592 (+16). UCLA shot an even par 288 and are the only team in the red at 1-under 575. Nevada is second (+8), followed by New Mexico and Colorado (+9), USC and San Diego (+12) and seventh-place Colorado State (+13).
Despite the conditions at the 7,033-yard, par-72 San Diego Country Club course, the Huskies, who started the second round from the back nine, managed to make the turn at 1-under.
"We got off to a great start which gave us a bit of momentum," Murray said, "and our back nine, which was the front nine, was very tough. It was a case of holding on coming in.
"Everyone played a really good round."
Schneider entered the day tied for 12th after shooting an opening score of 70. Despite shooting three-strokes worse with a 1-over 73, the German moved up the leaderboard into a tie for fourth.
In day one, 26 competitors were under par. Just four stayed under par on Tuesday. Schneider is one of seven competitors under par for the tournament and is 1-under 143 after 36 holes.
"Jan continued his steady golf," Murray said. "He putted really well inside five feet, which is important out here with the greens being fast and contoured, ensuring it's hard to leave easy tap ins. You have to make a lot more 3- to 5-foot putts than typical."
Hruby was markedly better on Tuesday than he was during his opening round. He erased the memories of his first round 77 with a 73.
"Petr showed real grit and poise out there," Murray said of Hruby, who is third among Huskies and is tied for 46th at 6-over 150. "He played and battled really hard to shoot a really good 73."
Henry Lee is positioned second among Huskies, tied for 30th overall at 4-over 148. He shot a 74 for a second-consecutive day.
Noah Woolsey is tied for 53rd with a 151 total (+7) and Teddy Lin is tied for 63rd at 153 (+9). Both shot 75, making the Huskies the only team that had all five competitors shoot 75 or better.
"To do that on this course and still grind out his score was very impressive because it's hard work on every shot to make par," Murray said. "I am really proud of the guys' efforts today, and it was a step forward for us."
UCLA's Devon Bling is the tournament's individual leader by three strokes at -7. He has fired rounds of 68 and 69.