Playing back-to-back golf tournaments is not easy. There’s a reason why the PGA tour only has events on weekends, and there’s a reason why the PGA tour golfers don’t often compete on back-to-back weekends. Golf, much like any other sport, takes a toll on your body. So when the Cougars began play in the Prestige tournament on Feb. 19, just two days after finishing seventh place in the John Burns Invitational in Hawaii, it was not going to be easy.
A three-hour time difference and less than two days rest were affecting the Cougs as they went into the Prestige, but that didn’t hold back Wazzu.
The Cougars finished ninth out of 24 teams, barely missing out on the top third, but well within the top half.
On day one, the Cougs shot 5-over par and were tied for 13th place. Senior Pono Yanagi had a nice first day, finishing sixth overall with a score of 5-under and checking in with an Eagle on hole 12. Meanwhile, freshman Ben Borgida finished at even par, boating three birdies on the day.
On day two, the Cougars moved up three spots, on the back of excellent performances from both of their seniors. Pono Yanagi and Preston Bubich both shot 3-under, and Yanagi moved into fifth place overall in the field of 120 golfers. Sophomore Sam Renner also made up for his 7-over day one, finishing 1 below par on day two, and playing a big part in Wazzu’s jump into the top ten.
On the third and final day, WSU moved up again, from ninth to 10th. Senior Drayton Joseph shot 3-under par, leading the Cougars on Day three in what was the best individual round in his collegiate career. If not for Joseph’s career-best day, the Cougs likely would have slid out of the top 10.
Renner also finished 2-under.
Meanwhile, Bebich impressively managed to par every single hole on the course. He and Ben Borgida both parred day three.
Unfortunately, Pono Yanagi was unable to close in on the top three. Instead, he struggled, shooting 4-over par, his worst day of the tournament. Still, Yanagi led Wazzu overall, with a final score of 3-under, and finished tied for 25th place overall.
The Cougars have now finished in the top 10 in both events they have played so far, a good sign for the season to come. They now a get few weeks of rest, before heading to Arizona for the Grand Canyon University invitational.
