OC Eagles look for big finish in Las Vegas Desert Invite

LAS VEGAS (March 2, 2020) – No. 6-ranked Oklahoma Christian stood fifth Monday after the second round of the power-packed Las Vegas Desert Invitational at Royal Links Golf Club’s Links Replica Course.

The 20-team field – which includes six ranked squads – finished their weather-delayed first round before playing the second round. OC finished the first round with a team score of 303 (15-over-par) before improving to 300 in the second round.

At 603, the Eagles were 13 shots behind Lone Star Conference rival and No. 10-ranked St. Mary’s Texas, four behind No. 8 Arkansas Tech and three behind Regis (Colo.) and Colorado State-Pueblo. OC will enter Tuesday’s final round ahead of No. 16 Colorado School of Mines (606), No. 4 West Florida (609) and No. 23 California-San Diego (625).

OC’s Trevor Norby, a senior from Carlsbad, Calif., was the Eagles’ top individual, tied for eighth in the 104-man field at 147 after rounds of 2-over-par 74 and a 73. His steady second round on the 6,962-yard course included 15 pars. Norby trailed the leader, Andrew Ni of Colorado State-Pueblo, by four shots.

OC junior Alex Motes was tied for 26th at 152, posting rounds of 74 and 78. Sophomore Alejandro Armijo improved eight shots from round-to-round, from 81 to 73, and was tied for 38th at 154. Armijo led OC with seven birdies over the two rounds.

Also at 154 was freshman Mateo Pulcini, who shot rounds of 78 and 76. One shot further back was junior Andres Brictson, who shot 77 and 78 and was tied for 44th.

OC will be grouped with players from Missouri-St. Louis, Colorado Mines and St. Edward’s (Texas) during the final round. The Eagles will tee off at 8 a.m. PST (10 a.m. CST).