Fresno State Athletics
Dogs Move Up To Third
11/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Nov. 3, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - College golf is all about competing as team, which for many players who enjoy the game is a foreign concept. For most, it's about competing against a course and seeing how well one can do.
For the Bulldog men's golf team, which hasn't even finished its third tournament of season yet, playing as a team is second nature. Especially considering that on Tuesday, the reigning WAC Player of the Year Grant Doverspike didn't play up to his usual high standards, and the Dogs still shot 11-under par as a team and improved from sixth to third place in the 37th Annual University of Pacific Invitational. Fresno State's round of 273 was the second-lowest of the tournament.
Led by Bhavik Patel, who blistered the course with a 6-under par round, the Bulldogs trail UC Davis by eight strokes and Oregon by nine heading into Wednesday's final round. Fresno State is 14-under par for the tournament.
Patel started the day tied for 18th place but moved up to fourth with a round of 65, his lowest of the season and the second lowest round of the day. After a bogey on the first hole, his only one of the day, Patel played amazing golf. He finished the front nine with five birdies and added two more on the back nine. Through two rounds, he's posted 13 birdies.
Joining Patel with a super round was Michael Gideon at 4-under par. He didn't have a score worse than par on his scorecard and posted four birdies on holes 5, 6, 13 and 16.
Gideon is tied with team mate Adam Barkow in ninth place, 4-under par for the tournament. Barkow, who started the tournament with a 68, shot a 1-under par round of 70 on Tuesday. He's played very consistent golf over 36 holes with 8 birdies, 4 bogies and 24 pars.
Bryan Hogan shot an even par round of 71 and is tied for 29th place after 36 holes. He posted six birdies on his scorecard on Tuesday.
Doverspike is tied for 45th at 5-over par for the tournament.
Tyler Raber of UC Davis leads the tournament at 15-under par with rounds of 64 and 63.
"Bhavik showed what he is made of,"said head coach Mike Watney. "He is a very special player. Michael was very solid. Nine strokes is hard but not impossible to overcome."
"We are Your Team" The Bulldog men's golf team concludes its final day of competition in the University of Pacific Invitational at the Brookside Country Club in Stockton, Calif., on Wednesday morning. Follow the tournament with live scoring on www.golfstat.com.
