BANDON, Ore. - Teeing off the opening round of the ninth annual Bandon Dunes Championship, the Cougar men's golf team put itself in prime position after 18-holes of action with a Sunday score of 280 to come into the clubhouse at four-under par and in fourth place. Washington State's four-under round was the team's best round since taking home the Itani Quality Homes Collegiate title with a second round score of 271 (-13) and third round score of 266 (-18).
Taking on a tough field of teams, the Cougs came out firing led by their senior Derek Bayley who finished his first trip around the Pacific Dunes Course at three-under par, shooting a 68 to push his way into the top-10 on the individual standings, trying for seventh place.
Along with Bailey, two other Cougars reside in the top-15 of the tournament with Brian Mogg sitting in 11th place while AJ Armstrong tied for 14th after one round. The trio of Cougs got off to a hot start with Mogg carding three birdies in the opening nine holes while Bayley and Armstrong each sunk a pair of birdies.
The three would continue their strong play on the back-nine of the course led by Bayley who added three more red numbers to his scorecard while giving just one shot back to finish his day three-under. After going two-under par on the front, Mogg steadily made his way around the back part of the course, playing the final nine holes of the day at even-par to post a one-day score of 69 (-2). Helping add to the Cougars' final total of four-under par, Armstrong complete his round one-under on the back-nine, including rolling in a birdie putt on the final hole of the day to finish the round with a one-under, 70.
Taking on a tough field of teams, the Cougs came out firing led by their senior Derek Bayley who finished his first trip around the Pacific Dunes Course at three-under par, shooting a 68 to push his way into the top-10 on the individual standings, trying for seventh place.
Along with Bailey, two other Cougars reside in the top-15 of the tournament with Brian Mogg sitting in 11th place while AJ Armstrong tied for 14th after one round. The trio of Cougs got off to a hot start with Mogg carding three birdies in the opening nine holes while Bayley and Armstrong each sunk a pair of birdies.
The three would continue their strong play on the back-nine of the course led by Bayley who added three more red numbers to his scorecard while giving just one shot back to finish his day three-under. After going two-under par on the front, Mogg steadily made his way around the back part of the course, playing the final nine holes of the day at even-par to post a one-day score of 69 (-2). Helping add to the Cougars' final total of four-under par, Armstrong complete his round one-under on the back-nine, including rolling in a birdie putt on the final hole of the day to finish the round with a one-under, 70.
The second round of the Bandon Dunes Championship begins Monday at 8:30 a.m. with the Cougars teeing off beginning with Daniel Kolar at 11:10 a.m. WSU will be playing alongside of the tournament leader after one, No. 22 Arizona State, as well as Southern Utah. The Sun Devils finished the first round of action in Bandon at 11-under par, five strokes ahead of No. 15 Clemson which closed round one at six-under par, just two strokes better than the Cougars.