GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP PAGE
Men's Championship live scoring / Women's Championship live scoring
Big West Golf Championships Video Features on BigWest.TV
Competitors from UC Davis and UC Irvine crowd the top of the leaderboard as the Anteater and Aggie men are deadlocked after completing 36 holes at the 2008 Big West Golf Championships at Tijeras Creek Golf Club on Monday. The UCI women own a 10-shot lead on UCD as teams tee off for the final 18 hours beginning Tuesday morning.
On the men's side, the Aggies and Anteaters set themselves up for a dramatic final round as both squads shot an identical 5-under par 571. UCI's John Chin shot Monday's lowest score, a second round 66 that put him at 5-under 139 (73-66) for the tournament, but teammate Sean Shahi walked into the clubhouse as the individual leader. The junior carded rounds of 68 and 70 for a 6-under total of 138.
Junior Tim Cha rounded out a UCI trio of golfers in the top five with a 1-under 143 (70-73).
UC Davis freshman Austin Graham posted identical rounds of 71 to sit in third place at 2-under 142. Junior Nate Pistacchio followed his first round 71 with a second round 72 to tie Cha and Pacific's Chris Rosenau for fourth in the standings. Additionally, Aggie sophomore Gregg Button and senior Matt Marshall occupied the upper half of the leaderboard, finishing in a tie for seventh at even par 144. Button fired a second round 69 to help the Aggies finish with the tournament's best second round, a 4-under 284.
Four teams are grouped closely together in a current battle for third place, with Pacific holding the edge after shooting a 12-over par 588. Cal State Northridge is one shot back of the Tigers, while UC Santa Barbara (592) and UC Riverside (595) also remain in striking distance.
The UC Irvine women overcame a shaky start to finish with a 10-stroke advantage after two rounds. The Anteaters occupied last place for much of the first round before settling for fourth place after a 312 total. However, the three-time defending champion Anteaters made a fierce second round comeback, shooting the day's lowest round by far at 7-over 295.
Sophomore Patty Chawalitmetha, who finished second at the conference tournament last year, shot a 4-over 148 (77-71) to nab second place after 36 holes.
The individual leader is UC Davis freshman Chelsea Stelzmiller, who totaled an even par 144. Her first round 70 was the lowest score in either round.
However, Stelzmiller was the only Aggie in the top 10, while Anteater seniors Kim Lorenzana and Selaneé Henderson stand in third and fourth, respectively. The Aggies trail the Anteaters by 10 strokes entering Tuesday's final round after shooting a 36-hole total of 617.
Three Cal Poly golfers - Maddy Fletcher, Julia Heath and Elsie Walker - finished within the top 10 to put the Mustangs in third place at 622. UC Riverside (628), Cal State Northridge (629) and Long Beach State (637) round out the standings.
Tuesday's action begins at 7:30 a.m. with the women teeing off at hole No. 1 and the men at hole No. 10.
Admission is free to the Tijeras Creek Golf Club, which is hosting the Big West Golf Championships for the fifth straight year.
BIG WEST MEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM RESULTS
Team Scores
1. UC Davis 287-284-571 (-5)
2. UC Irvine 286-285-571 (-5)
3. Pacific 296-292-588 (+12)
4. Cal State Northridge 289-300-589 (+13)
5. UC Santa Barbara 296-296-592 (+16)
6. UC Riverside 298-297-595 (+19)
7. Cal Poly 304-299-603 (+27)
8. Long Beach State 310-310-620 (+44)
BIG WEST MEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Individual Scores
1. Sean Shahi, UC Irvine 68-70-138 (-6)
2. John Chin, UC Irvine 73-66-139 (-5)
3. Austin Graham, UC Davis 71-71-142 (-2)
4. Tim Cha, UC Irvine 70-73-143 (-1)
4. Nate Pistacchio, UC Davis 71-72-143 (-1)
4. Chris Rosenau, Pacific 76-67-143 (-1)
BIG WEST WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM RESULTS
Team Scores
1. UC Irvine 312-295-607 (+31)
2. UC Davis 305-312-617 (+41)
3. Cal Poly 306-316-622 (+46)
4. UC Riverside 308-320-628 (+52)
5. Cal State Northridge 327-302-629 (+53)
6. Long Beach State 316-321-637 (+61)
BIG WEST WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Individual Scores
1. Chelsea Stelzmiller, UC Davis 70-74-144 (E)
2. Patty Chawalitmetha, UC Irvine 77-71-148 (+4)
3. Kim Lorenzana, UC Irvine 77-73-150 (+6)
4. Selanee Henderson, UC Irvine 77-74-151 (+7)
5. Jennifer Bermingham, UC Riverside 73-79-152 (+8)