Arizona Open Season With Career Rounds From Banke and Others
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – A pair of career low rounds from graduate senior Christian Banke and sophomore Sam Sommerhauser punctuated Arizona Men's golf first round of the season at the Maui Jim Intercollegiate. The blistering pair of opening rounds helped propel the Wildcats to seventh place in the tournament standings at 3-under par.
"I am happy to see Christian and Sam post the best rounds of their careers as strong openers to our season," said head coach Jim Anderson. "We have to improve our scoring, as whole, on the back nine to position ourselves to move up the leaderboards tomorrow and on Sunday. I look forward to seeing how our team responds and plays tomorrow."
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Christian Banke in the 1??st round of the 1??st event of the season shoots lowest round of his career and sits tied for 3??rd at Maui Jim Intercollegiate. #BearDown pic.twitter.com/m96OJGdgSg
— Arizona Men's Golf (@ArizonaMGolf) September 10, 2021
Banke was the best example of Arizona's stronger play before the turn as he sank four birdies and made five par's on the front nine. He was one of four players in the Wildcat lineup who made more birdies before the turn than after. The Wildcats also posted strong scores on the longest holes on the course, shooting 5-under par on the par-5's, which tied for the second lowest team score among the field.
Sommerhauser finished the first day tied for the lead in par-3 scoring at 2-under for the round alongside three other players.
Arizona will tee off its second round of the Maui Intercollegiate on Saturday morning from Mirabel Golf Club in Scottsdale.