Darien Zhao Finishes Third at Big West Championships

darien-zhao-mgolf-2022-big-west-third-place

Results

LA QUINTA, Calif. - Sophomore Darien Zhao led the UC Irvine men's golf team with a third-place finish at the Big West Championships Tuesday at La Quinta Country Club.

Zhao carded a 54-hole score of 2-under 214 (70-71-73) for the Anteaters' best individual showing since David Kim tied for third in 2018. He was consistent over the three-day tournament, leading the field with 41 pars, while firing eight birdies.

Redshirt freshman Johnny Bai had UCI's best round of the day as he came in at even-par 72. Bai moved up two spots into a tie for 15th with a total of 220 (73-75-72) in his Big West debut. Sophomore Henry Fitzhugh had three-straight rounds of 2-over 74 to tie for 21st (222). Bai and Fitzhugh finished with a team-best nine birdies each.

Sophomore Kolbe Irei (74-76-75) and senior Nathan Irwin (73-77-75) also tied for 28th at 225.

As a team, the 'Eaters placed fifth with a 5-count-4 score of 880 (290-296-294).

Top-seeded UC Davis led wire-to-wire, carding an 11-under 853 for a six-stroke victory. The Aggies' Thomas Hutchison also claimed the individual title at 13-under 203 (67-68-68).

Schedule

Darien Zhao Finishes Third at Big West Championships

Players Mentioned

Johnny Bai

Henry Fitzhugh

Kolbe Irei

Nathan Irwin

Darien Zhao

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