The third and final round of stroke play at the 2011 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship is in the books, and UCLA has come out on top in the team competition. With a final score of +8 par 872 the Bruins topped Georgia Tech, leaders on day one and two, by a three stroke margin as they progressively got worse every day as a team, shooting a +14 302 on Thursday to leave the door open for UCLA. As for the Cal Golden Bears, they finished well back at +38 par 902 as a team, finishing tied for 19th overall. Only the top eight teams make it to the weekend match play, unfortunately ending Cal’s 2011 season.
Max Homa lead the way for the Golden Bears today shooting even par 72, followed by Michael Weaver’s +2 74, Stephen Hale’s +4 76, and Eric Mina’s +9 81. 2009 U.S. Amateur Champion and Cal Freshman Ben An withdrew from Thursday round after an undisclosed hospital visit on Wednesday night, and informed his teammates and coaches that he will likely turn pro next year, effectively ending his college golfing career.
As for the individual competition, LSU’s John Petterson beat out UCLA’s Patrick Cantaly for an exciting one stroke victory, finishing at -5 par 211 to take home the crown. Peterson is LSU’s first NCAA men’s golf champ since Fred Haas Jr. in 1937, and marks the first time LSU has had both men’s and women’s golf champions at the same time (Austin Ersnt won the ladies event on May 21). Cal’s Michael Weaver finished tied for eighth at even par overall, the best individual finish for Cal this year.
Team match play begins tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT with the top eight seeds competing for the 2011 NCAA Division I title.