UCI misses out on NCAAs

TUCSON, Ariz. ? The UC Irvine men’s golf team concluded its season on the third day of the NCAA West Regional at the Tucson National Golf Club on Saturday.

The Anteaters were in eighth place overall going into Saturday’s action, but fell to 16th place by shooting a six-over-par 294 to finish with a three-day score of 861.

Arizona and Florida tied for the first place with 54-hole totals of 827. Other teams advancing to the NCAA Championships include Arizona State (840), Washington (840), North Carolina State (845), BYU (847), Loyola Marymount (847), East Tennessee State (849), Pepperdine (851) and Nevada (851).

The top 10 teams advanced to the NCAA Championships May 31 through June 3 at the Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Ore.

UC Irvine shot a 283 on the first day of competition, followed by a 284 on Friday, but fell out of contention with a 294 on Saturday.

UC Irvine was led by junior All-Big West Conference first-team pick Brian Edick, who shot a two-under-par 70 on Saturday and finished with a three-day score of eight-under-par 208, which put him in a tie for 11th place individually.

Sophomore Garrett Sapp carded a 72 on Saturday to finish with a three-day score of two-under-par 214, good for 46th place.

Sophomore Kenny Kim finished 79th at 219, sophomore Derek Uyesaka took 99th place with a three-day score of 223 and freshman Tim Cha recorded a 77 on Saturday to finish 119th with a three-day score of 227.

Florida’s Billy Horschel and Nevada’s Casey Watabu shared medalist honors by shooting 13-under-par 203s. Washington’s Zach Bixler and East Tennessee State’s Rhys Davies tied for third at 204.

UCI was making its fifth West Regional appearance in the last six years. The Anteaters have not reached the NCAA Championships since 2001.