April 15, 2008

Complete Results

University Place, WA - The Saint Mary's men's golf team posted a final round 301, which was tied for the low team round of the day, but it was not enough to overcome an 11-shot deficit entering the final round. Saint Mary's posted rounds of 298-293-301 to post a 54-hole score of 892 (+28) to finish four shots behind San Diego for the team title at the 2008 West Coast Conference Championships from the Chambers Bay Golf Club.

Saint Mary's senior Chadd Cocco posted a final round 71 (-1) to post the low round of the day. Cocco, who was the only player to shoot under par on Tuesday, who finish in a tie for medalist honors with San Diego's Jake Yount with a total of 218 (+2). Cocco and Yount would return to the course to settle the WCC's top player, and the sudden death playoff ended on the 17th hole, which was the second of the playoff.

In the first playoff hole, the two tee shots ended up left of the fairway, and both players were within five yards of each other. The second shot on the in-to-the-wind 485-yard four for both players ended up left of the green, and again within five yards of each other. Yount played first and left his chip shot 15 feet past the hole. Cocco, who had a great look at how Yount's ball released on the green, was able to hit his chip within three feet, for a sure par, his only par on the first hole during the tournament. Yount would make the putt and send the playoff to the second hole.

Yount took advantage of the hole-tying putt and took home medalist honors after winning the 172-yard par-3 17th. Yount hit his tee shot to the center of the green and Cocco then missed the green, and was in a bunker. Cocco's bunker shot flew over the green and ended up in another bunker. With Yount in the middle of the green, Cocco needed to get up and down to, but couldn't and made a five. Yount would three putt the hole for a bogey, which was one shot better than Cocco's double bogey five.

Mike McRae entered the final round tied for fifth overall after rounds of 74 and 72 on Monday. McRae had another solid round for the Gaels, as he posted a 2-over par 74 on Tuesday. With the weather conditions very cold with strong winds, McRae was in contention for the individual playoff with Yount and Cocco until a bogey on the 17th dropped him one shot behind Cocco and Yount. McRae would finish tied for third overall after recording one birdie and three bogeys in the final round. For the fourth straight tournament, McRae finished one shot behind the leader.

Josh Kelley and Daniel Cone posted a final rounds of 78 (+6) and finished 11th and 19th overall respectively. Kelley opened the day with a double bogey. After six straight pars, Kelley posted three straight bogeys on eight, nine and 10. Following another string of six pars, Kelley posted a bogey on the par-3 17th hole.

Cone started his final round with five straight bogeys, but dropped to four over par with back-to-back bogeys on six and seven, before making a double bogey on the par-5 eighth hole. Following two pars, Cone got back to 2-over for the round with birdies on 11 and 12. Cone would close the round going four over par over the final four holes with a bogey on 15, a double bogey on 16 and a bogey on 18 to close the round.

After rounds of 78 and 76 on Monday, Robert McRae looked to have his game on Tuesday, as he was 1-under through seven holes. During the first seven holes, he had six pars and a birdie on the par-5 fourth hole. After a par on seven, McRae played the next five holes in five over to drop to 4-over par after 12 holes. Following pars on 13 and 14, three straight bogeys on 15, 16, and 17 dropped the sophomore to seven over for the round. McRae finished with a final round 79 to finish at 233 (+17) and tied for 31st overall.

Saint Mary's will return to action, and complete its 2007-08 regular season schedule on Friday and Saturday when the Gaels compete in the Cougar Invitational hosted by BYU. The tournament will be played at the Riverside Country Club in Provo, Utah.