Maruri keeps UNLV in contention at NCAA men’s golf regional
Nicholas Maruri knew he needed to bounce back from his dismal performance on the golf course Thursday.
The UNLV senior did just that Friday, posting a team-best 2-under-par 70 that helped keep the Rebels in contention for a berth in the NCAA men’s championships. UNLV remained in fifth place in the NCAA regional at Noblesville, Ind., posting a 2-over 290 for a two-day total of 9-over 585 heading into today’s final round at Sagamore Golf Club.
The top five teams qualify for the nationals May 29 to June 3 in Bradenton, Fla.
Southern Methodist swept into the lead at 3-under 573, four shots better than first-round leader Colorado, which struggled to a 12-over round. Illinois is third at 579, followed by UCLA at 582 and UNLV. The Rebels have a five-stroke margin over sixth-place Oregon.
“The course was a little easier,” Rebels coach Dwaine Knight said. “The wind wasn’t blowing as hard or as consistent as Thursday, and I thought other than a couple of holes we managed our game well.”
Maruri, filling in for injured freshman John Oda and playing in the No. 5 spot, struggled to a 9-over 81 Thursday that didn’t count in the team total.
But on Friday he birdied two of the first three holes, was 2 under at the turn and reached 3 under with a birdie at the par-4 No. 15. He bogeyed the par-3 17th and finished at 70.
“I think the difference was he got off to a good start and it helped his confidence. He wasn’t playing from behind like he did Thursday,” Knight said.
UNLV senior Carl Jonson, playing in the No. 2 spot, also carded an under-par round, parlaying three birdies on the back nine into a 71. The Rebels’ other team-total scores came from senior Kurt Kitayama (74 in the No. 1 spot) and junior AJ McInerney (75 at No. 4). Freshman Shintaro Ban (No. 3) shot 78 and his score didn’t count toward the team total.
Live scoring is available online at Golfstat.com.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.
