2012 WCC Golf Championship – Tournament Central
HOLLISTER, Calif. – Santa Clara University senior Ronnald Monaco eagled the par 5 Ninth Hole at San Juan Oaks Golf Club and added three other birdies during opening-round play of the 2012 West Coast Conference Golf Championship. Monaco finished the first day of the three-day event with a 2-under par 70 and is tied for fifth.
The results were especially rewarding for Monaco, the team's lone senior, who enjoyed one of his best rounds as a college player.
"I thought I did a really good job of preparing and getting committed to every shot, especially on the front nine here at San Juan Oaks," said Monaco. "On that eagle, I actually hit a bad drive and had to lay up. I was about 70-yards out and was just trying to give myself a good look at birdie, and it sucked back in. I saw it go down and the people around the greens went crazy, it was cool."
Monaco saw teammates Scott Lowe and Colin Gunstream post impressive opening rounds. Lowe fired a 1-over par 73 and Gunstream carded a 74, helping Santa Clara to a 295 team score in ideal scoring conditions in Hollister.
"We were in a really good position as a team at one point today, but we struggled a bit coming in," added Monaco about the team effort Monday. "We are right there. If we would have finished strong we would have finished in the top three. If we can finish strong tomorrow we will be in a good spot."
Saint Mary's men shot a 14-under par 274 to build a 14-stroke lead over second place Gonzaga (288). The Gaels posted the top three individual scored in the field on Monday, led by freshman Jonathan De Los Reyes' 7-under 65. Teammates Ben Geyer, a junior, and Eric Grimberg, a senior, each shot a three-under 69. Gonzaga sophomore Peter Gullickson also finished Monday's round in a tie for second place, posting a 69.
The Broncos will enter Tuesday's second round just five shots outside of third place. The 2012 WCC Golf Championship will span three days, Monday through Wednesday, April 16-18 with 18 holes being played each morning.
SANTA CLARA RESULTS
T5 Santa Clara 295 295
T5 Ronnald Monaco (1) 70 -2
T14 Scott Lowe (2) 73 +1
T22 Colin Gunstream (4) 74 +2
T34 Bobby Monaco (3) 78 +6
T40 Brett Komoto (5) 82 +10
TEAM STANDINGS
1 #38 St. Mary's (CA) 274 -14
2 Gonzaga 288 E
T3 Brigham Young 290 +2
T3 San Francisco 290 +2
T5 Santa Clara 295 +7
T5 Pepperdine 295 +7
7 San Diego 297 +9
8 Loyola Marymount 302 +14
INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
1 Jonathan De Los Reye - St. Mary's (CA) 65 -7
T2 Ben Geyer - St. Mary's (CA) 69 -3
T2 Eric Grimberg - St. Mary's (CA) 69 -3
T2 Peter Gullickson - Gonzaga 69 -3
T5 Ronnald Monaco - Santa Clara 70 -2
T5 Zachary Blair - Brigham Young 70 -2
T5 Grant Forrest - San Diego 70 -2
T5 Ji Hwan Park - San Francisco 70 -2
T5 Taylor Travis - San Francisco 70 -2
T9 Anders Engell - St. Mary's (CA) 71 -1
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Scott Lowe Honored for Academic Excellence
The West Coast Conference also announced its 2012 West Coast Conference Men's Golf All-Academic Team. Four members of this year's team appeared on the 2011 men's golf All-Academic Team: Anders Engell and Ben Geyer from Saint Mary's, San Diego's Leon Knoll and Mat Miller from San Francisco. Santa Clara sohomore Scott Lowe earned All-Academic honors in his first season of eligibility.
The complete 2012 West Coast Conference Men's Golf All-Academic team follows.
2012 MEN'S GOLF ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Player, School, Yr., GPA., Major
Kyle Berka, LMU, So., 3.52, Communication Studies
Anders Engell, SMC, Sr., 3.45, Business Administration
Ben Geyer, SMC, Jr., 3.25, Business Administration
Eric Grimberg, SMC, Sr., 3.54, Grad
Jordan Hammer, BYU, So., 3.86, Undeclared
Leon Knoll, USD, Jr., 3.72, Finance
Scott Lowe, SCU, So., 3.73, Business
Mat Miller, USF, Sr., 3.45, Finance
Andrew Waldron, LMU, Sr., 3.41, Business Administration
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