Manke Anchors Huskies With Scorching 62

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Fifth-year senior transfer RJ Manke flirted with Husky history firing a second round 8-under 62 at the Maui Jim Intercollegiate to anchor a strong day for Washington at Mirabel Country Club on Saturday.
 
The Huskies leaned heavily on Manke's score as the Washington lineup of five totaled a 9-under 271 and are tied for third with Louisville and Auburn at 15-under 545 with one round remaining. Georgia Tech (-34) and Clemson (-30) are distancing themselves from the rest of the field.
 
Manke ended his first round on Friday with one birdie, coming on the very last hole to tally a first-round score of even-par 70. That birdie lit a fire for Manke and carried over to Saturday as he birdied three of his first four holes.  He ended his front nine (the Huskies teed off from No. 10) with a birdie on 17 and made the turn with a 31.
 
Manke caught fire from there, birdying each of the first five holes on his back-nine. He stepped on to the No. 9 tee needing a birdie to equal a Husky record 60 shared by Zach Bixler (2007) and Brock Mackenzie (2003), but Manke bogeyed his final hole and had to "settle" for 62.

"An awesome round from RJ," Husky coach Alan Murray said. "He showed his class as a player today.

"The rest of the guys are all really close to playing some great golf."
 
Manke is 10th overall in the tournament, two spots behind teammate Taehoon Song, who is competing as an individual and is tied for eighth. Song notched his second-consecutive bogey-free round, going into the clubhouse with a 5-under 65. He is -9 overall, three shots behind tournament leader Chris Lamprecht of Georgia Tech (-12).
 
Petr Hruby shot a 1-under 69, the second-best among scores counting for the team. He is 39th overall at 1-under 139.
 
Teddy Lin and Noah Woolsey each ended up with even-par 70s. Lin is tied for 20th overall at 4-under 136, while Woolsey is tied for 33rd at 2-under 138.
 
Aidan O'Hagan shot 1-over 71 and is +7 overall.

"We improved upon yesterday's score and we will hope to do the same tomorrow," Murray said. "I don't think we are far away from putting up a really good number."