LIHU‘E — Sam Choi fired a five-under 67 to lead a comeback rally for New Mexico that ended with a four-under combined 839 to win its third John Burns Intercollegiate golf tournament Saturday at the Hokuala Ocean Course.
Arizona, No. 27 in the rankings, held the lead on the first two rounds of the 54-hole tournament, and on Saturday, had just one golfer, Sam Sommerhauser,finish under par to end up nine strokes back of 38th ranked New Mexico in clear, sunny conditions at the Kalapaki course.
Host University of Hawai‘i men’s golf team slipped to 17th place Friday, and could not do better on the final round, finishing with a day’s combined 312 for a three-day 910.
UH’s top individual belonged to freshman Tyler Ogawa, who shot a final-round 79 for a 226 total over three days. Freshman Atsuya Oishi picked up four birdies to get to nine holes for a three-under at the crossing, finished with the team’s top score Saturday with a 77 for a 230 total.
This year’s tournament marked the first time playing at Hokuala Ocean Course following seven years of play at the Wailua Golf Course.
UH men’s golf will next compete in the GCU Invitational, March 14 and 15 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Niemann stays on top as the major champs can’t keep up
LOS ANGELES — Joaquin Niemann couldn’t find a fairway over the final two hours at Riviera and it didn’t matter. He still pieced together a 3-under 68 to set the 54-hole record and build a three-shot lead in the Genesis Invitational.
Cameron Young, the 24-year-old PGA Tour rookie, tried to keep it closer until taking two shots to get out of a plugged lie in the bunker in front of the par-3 16th green and making double bogey. He had a 69 and was three behind.
Joining them in the final group will be 24-year-old Viktor Hovland, who had eight birdies in his round of 65. That only got the Norwegian within six shots of Niemann.
Langer keeps 2-shot lead in pursuit of 4th Chubb Classic win
NAPLES, Fla. — Bernhard Langer maintained a two-stroke lead Saturday in pursuit of a fourth Chubb Classic victory.
A day after shooting his age, the 64-year-old German star had a 4-under 68 to get to 12-under 132 on Tiburon Golf Club’s Black Course.
“It was a little more up and down,” Langer said. “Yesterday, I had a very clean card, no bogeys. Today, I had seven birdies, but also three bogeys. I felt it was a little tougher today.”
Scott Parel (64), Retief Goosen (67) and Tim Petrovic (68) were tied for second in the PGA Tour Champions’ first full-field tournament of the year.
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Associated Press contributed to this report
