Franklin Dominates On Day One At Pac-12?s
PULLMAN, Wash. – Senior Alex Franklin continued his strong play with two sub-par rounds to lead the Oregon State men’s golf team during Monday’s 36 holes of play at the Pac-12 Championship.
The Beavers are in seventh place after opening the six-count-five championship with an 18-over 361-357--718 at the par-70, 7,257-yard Palouse Ridge Golf Club.
USC was the only team to post a number in red figures on a windy day on the Palouse, a 1-under 699, to hold a six-stroke lead over Arizona State (5-over 705).
The third round of the three-day, 72-hole tournament will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday and live scoring is available at golfstat.com.
“Overall, the guys played solid,” Oregon State head coach Jon Reehoorn said. “The wind was blowing opposite of the prevailing wind in the morning and the course played very difficult.
“With 36 holes and 10 counting rounds left, that is almost equal to a full tournament. If we keep doing what we are doing and improve our play on the back nine, I think we will find ourselves in a good place come Wednesday.”
| 7 | Oregon State | 361 | 357 | 718 |
| T3 | Alex Franklin (1) | 68 | 67 | 135 |
| T10 | Kevin Murphy (2) | 68 | 72 | 140 |
| T41 | Jonas Liebich (6) | 76 | 71 | 147 |
| T46 | Tyler Carlson (4) | 75 | 73 | 148 |
| T51 | Conner Kumpula (5) | 74 | 75 | 149 |
| T63 | Brian Jung (3) | 79 | 74 | 153 |
Franklin was dominant on Monday with eight birdies and only three bogeys over the two rounds. He had five birdies and three bogeys in the morning and three chirps in his bogey-free afternoon round to finish the day with a 5-under 68-67--135.
A native of San Rafael, Calif., Franklin is tied for third place and only two strokes out of the lead, which is held by Maverick McNealy of Stanford (7-under 65-68--133). Franklin has been on fire entering the Pac-12 Championship with a tie for eighth place at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational and a tie for 10th at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate.
“Alex just keeps doing what we call Frankie things,” Reehoorn said. “It is fun to see him play with so much confidence.”
Sophomore Kevin Murphy shot a 2-under 68 with four birdies in the morning and a 2-over 72 in the afternoon to sit in a tie for 10th place with an even-par 140.
“The difference today was our play on the back nine,” Reehoorn said. “Franklin and Murphy were the only two to play the back nine under par on our team, and to play well on this course, the back nine is key.”
Freshman Jonas Liebich, who is competing for the first time since the Itani Quality Homes Collegiate in September, played very well in the second round and is tied for 41st place with a 7-over 76-71--147.
“Jonas’ round this afternoon was very good,” Reehoorn said. “A 71 out of a guy who hasn’t played in about six months was really nice to see.”
Junior Tyler Carlson is a stroke back with an 8-over 75-73--148 for a tie for 46th place, sophomore Conner Kumpula is tied for 51st with a 9-over 74-75--149 and junior Brian Jung is in a tie for 63rd place with a 13-over 79-74--153.
