Phoenix, Ariz. - The Pacific men's golf team recorded its best round of the tournament, a five-under-par 279 on the final day of the 54-hole Grand Canyon University Invitational to finish ninth in the 23-team field. The 279 team score is the lowest 18-hole tally for the Tigers this season, besting the 282 mark set in the Visit Stockton Invitational in two of the three rounds.
"Definitely quite a few positives to take away from this week," said Head Coach John Cook. "Riley posted his first tournament under par for this season! Maverick hit the ball exceptionally well all week. He was able to capitalize on today's round by having a few putts fall! This is his 3rd top-10 of the year!"
A top-10 finish by junior Maverick Pavletich led the Tigers. He shot the second-best round in the 120-golfer field in the third round, carding a five-under 66. His 210 score (73-71-66), which was three-under-par, placed him in a tie for 10th.
Redshirt senior Riley Killup finished second on the team with a one-over-par 72 in the final round. His 212 (72-68-72) was good for tied for 21st. Redshirt junior Thomas O'Rourke had four birdies on his way to a one-under-par 70 in the final round, the best round of his 227 tournament (79-78-70).
Junior Leonardo Rigamonti also has his best round of the tournament on Tuesday, starting hot with birdies on five of his first 10 holes on his way to an even-par 71 and a 220 score (77-72-71). Junior Griffin Long, who had the low team score in the opening round with an even-par 71, finished with a 76 for a 221 score (71-74-76).
The Tigers were in 16th place after the first round on Monday. The team was able to play 16 holes of the second round on Monday before play was suspended due to darkness. By the end of Monday's play, the Tigers had surged into 10th place.
Tuesday, the Tigers started on the back nine, and hot play moved them up the leaderboard as all four scoring golfers were under par on the back nine. Pacific finished ninth, four shots behind eighth-place Abilene Christian. Host Grand Canyon won the event played on the university's golf course with a -18 score, four shots better than runner-up Fresno State.
Next Monday and Tuesday, the Tigers are right back in action at the Duck Invitational at the Eugene Country Club in Oregon.
