OCU dips to ninth entering final round
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Anthony Marchesani led Oklahoma City University with a 70 on Thursday in the NAIA men’s golf championships at LPGA International’s Hills Course.
Marchesani, a junior from Rosebud, Victoria, Australia, tied for 16th with teammate Garrison Mendoza through 54 holes. Second-ranked OCU stood ninth place in the team standings entering the final round 7:30 a.m. EDT Friday.
OCU has turned in a 289-299-291-879. Marchesani and Mendoza will contend for all-tournament accolades Friday.
On the day, Marchesani nailed five birdies – on the par-4, 380-yard fifth hole, the par-5, 532-yard eighth hole, the par-4, 410-yard ninth hole, the par-3, 185-yard 12th hole and the par-5, 531-yard No. 14. Marchesani has carded a 74-73-70-217.
Mendoza has posted a 71-75-71-217 for Oklahoma City. Mendoza, a sophomore from Clinton, Okla., buried four birdies on the fifth, eighth, 12th and par-4, 393-yard 13th hole.
The Stars’ Sam Russell has carded a 70-77-78-225 as Russell, a senior from Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, knocked in two birdies Thursday. Matthew Cheung, a sophomore from Brisbane, Australia, has contributed a 74-74-78-226.
Jamie Warman of OCU had a 76-81-72-229. Warman, a junior from Perth, Western Australia, Australia, sank four birdies in the third round.
Temperatures at the course went from 72 degrees to a high of 92 with winds up to 9 mph.