Results

SOMIS, Calif. - Behind the strength of top-20 individual finishes from seniors David Kim and Ryan O'Connor, the UC Irvine men's golf team placed sixth overall at the spring season-opening Waves Challenge Tuesday at Saticoy Country Club.
 
UCI shot a 309 in the final round for a 54-hole total of 931 (320-302-309). Host Pepperdine ran away from the 15-team field, claiming its own tournament title at 13-over 877. UC Santa Barbara secured runner-up honors (914), while Boise State was a close third (915).
 
Kim was the Anteaters' top finisher in 12th place at 12-over 228 (79-74-75). He finished the tournament with eight birdies, five of which came in the third round. It was Kim's 21st career top-20 performance.   
 
O'Connor added his first top-20 showing of the 2017-18 campaign as he tied for 16th with a 54-hole total of 231 (+15). He recovered from an opening-round 80 by carding a 75 and 76 to jump nine spots in the standings. He made a team-best nine birdies.
 
Sophomore Jonathan Kang tied for 32nd at 236 (80-78-78), while senior Jonathan Young came in 40th at 239 (84-75-80). Junior Ramiz Jamal rounded out the UCI contingent in 50th place (243).
 
The 'Eaters started the final day of the Waves Challenge with the last four holes of the second round after play was suspended due to darkness on Monday. It ended up being their best 18-hole score of the tournament as they shot a 302 to move into a tie for third. After two rounds, Kim was ninth at 9-over 153, and O'Connor was 14th at 155. Kang, Young and Jamal were also among the top-40.
 
Pepperdine's Sahith Theegala, who is ranked 37th by Golfstat.com, was individual medalist at 205 (-11). He was the only competitor to finish under par on a difficult course with high winds.
 
UC Irvine will return to action in two weeks when it heads to Lihue, Hawaii (Kauai), for the John A. Burns Intercollegiate at Wailua Golf Course, Feb. 15-17.