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National U A Force To Be Reckoned With at Myrtle

By Austin Dillard

The California Region concluded its regular Fall 2013 season at The Country Club at Soboba Springs from October 19-20th, 2013. This beautiful, immaculately-maintained course was host to the 2008-’09 California State Open and to a Nationwide Tour event. The competing teams were UCLA, National University, USC, USD, and ASU (A and B). The first round began Saturday afternoon in typical sunny California weather. The course was played over 7007 yards with a rating of 73.1 and a slope of 132. The course was long and had strategically-placed water hazards, so the scores dramatically increased from the first regional tournament. Play was a little slow so a few groups had to wake up pre-dawn in order to finish their first round. The first round concluded with National University (+27) in the lead. UCLA (+36) trailed by 9 strokes and ASU-A (+55) was in the third position. In the individual tournament, Garrett Szubielski (NU) was in the lead with a 74 (+2), Dustin Watanabe (UCLA) was in second with a 75 (+3) and Brad Kettenburg (UCLA) was in third with a 76 (+4).

The second round began with an 8:30am reverse shotgun, right after the remaining groups from the first day completed their first rounds. Play was noticeably faster but scores stayed about the same. In the end, all scores were posted on a custom-made scoreboard where the golf staff wrote each school’s name accented with their respective school colors! The tournament concluded with National University taking first place with a score of 773 (+53). UCLA came in second place with a score of 797 (+77). ASU-A came in third with a score of 827 (+107), and USC trailed with 849, USD with 873, and ASU-B with 885.

Dustin Watanabe (UCLA) shot a second-round score of 71 (-1), and was the only player to shoot an under par round in the whole tournament. Watanabe (UCLA) took home medalist honors with a score of 146 (+2). Rounding out the All-Tournament team were Brad Kettenburg (UCLA) with a 153 (+9), Paul Delman (NU) 155 (+11), Neil Son i(NU) 156 (+12), Kai Hayashida (USC) and Garrett Szubielski (NU) with 157 (+13), Alejandro Escobedo (NU) 158 (+14), and Brett Daly (USD) 159 (+15).

National University’s first place wins guaranteed them a spot in the NCCGA Fall 2013 National Championships at Barefoot Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC from November 16-17th, 2013. UCLA’s play in the regular season earned them a wildcard spot to compete at Nationals, too. This is the first time more than one team will represent the California Region at Nationals. By recruiting more schools and increasing competition, we hope to continue this trend. Good luck to the California teams! #RoadToMyrtle

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