The No. 1-ranked Cavaliers ventured to Raleigh, N.C., Saturday for the lone individual tournament of the spring, the Richard Sykes Individual hosted by NC State at Lonnie Poole Golf Course.
With the change of format in the interlude of their win last week in Puerto Rico and a major event forthcoming in the Southern Highlands Collegiate, Coach Bowen Sargent opted for a week of rest for the Cavaliers’ marquee names, an opportunity for some of the squad’s younger players to prove themselves.
Junior Sam O’Hara was accompanied by freshman Michael Lee, sophomore Maxi Puregger and freshman Alex Wells in the event lineup.
Puregger proved to be the man of the hour in the first round of play, getting off to a flying start with three birdies through the first five holes. A five on the par-three sixth seemed sure to faze him, but the promising young Spaniard continued to wreak havoc with a back-nine that saw five birdies to only one bogey. A six-under 65 for the round gave him a spot atop the leaderboard.
Lee led a grittier, unwavering round to begin the tournament. An early birdie on the third was met with a bogey on the par-four fifth and a flurry of pars for an even-par result at the turn. Two bogeys on the back were enough to overcome a birdie on fifteen, and a one-over 72 left him firmly within the middle of the pack heading into the second round.
Both O’Hara and Wells had their fair share of struggles, with a two-over front nine and an even-par back spelling a mediocre first-round 73 for O’Hara and a calamitous 77 that included six bogeys in eight holes for Wells.
The Cavaliers were back out on the course in the afternoon for the second round, with Lee stepping into the forefront for Virginia. Another composed round of 69 — with two straight birdies on 16 and 17 — was the highlight of the afternoon for the Cavaliers.
Puregger did well to maintain his positive run of play, though the second round proved far less fruitful. A quick two birdies were soon nullified around the halfway mark as he continued to exchange birdies for bogeys. An eagle on the 15th all but solidified another below-par round and left Puregger tied for third in his best performance to date.
The situation only grew more dire for the other Virginia contingent. O’Hara turned in a card of 76 that included two double bogeys and a passage of five over in just six holes. Wells also shot five over in the second round with a particularly turbulent finish consisting of an eagle on 15 and a subsequent double bogey on 16.
A rain-riddled forecast on Sunday meant a cancelled third round and cemented positions of third, 15th, 49th and 58th for Puregger, Lee, O’Hara and Wells, respectively.
The Cavaliers now look ahead to a journey to Las Vegas, Nev., this upcoming weekend for the Southern Highlands Invitational hosted by UNLV — an event packed with top competition and the potential for major ranking implications if the Cavaliers were to turn in an uncharacteristic performance. Fans will see the Cavaliers’ figureheads back in action as they attempt to bolster their resume before the fast-approaching ACC Championship.
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