The Idaho men’s golf team finished 14th overall in the Southwestern Invitational in Westlake, California Monday and Tuesday.
Senior Ryan Porch led the Vandals, carding a 6-over-par 222 to finish tied 28th overall. Porch sunk six birdies in the first and third rounds while also recording an eagle on the 15th, a par-5 474-yarder.
Pepperdine placed first overall with three players in the top-10. Waves’ sophomore Sahith Theegala placed first, shooting a 10-under-par 206, despite a 2-over-par showing in the third round.
Getting into the 70s proved difficult for Idaho, the Vandals shot in the 80s or 90s in nine of the 15 total rounds. Idaho sat in 14th after a lackluster first round and was unable to climb back up.
Although Porch would shoot a 1-over-par 73 in two rounds and sophomore Enrique Marin hit 73 in round two, no Vandals would shoot under-par throughout the tournament.
Marin placed 55th, shooting 2-under in 15 holes after starting the day with three bogeys. A double and a triple in the third round held Marin back, as he would have been 1-under without those holes.
Border-rival Washington State finished fourth overall in the tournament. Freshman Nick Mandell tied for eighth overall, carding a 3-under-par 213.
Idaho will compete Mar. 14-16, returning to the links at the Bob Sitton Invitational in Dallas, Texas.
Colton Clark can be reached at [email protected]