LAS VEGAS — Sunday’s first round of the Southern Highlands Collegiate was an “outlier” for Pepperdine men’s golf, especially senior Sahith Theegala.
The No. 3 Waves have three wins under their belt this season and haven’t finished worse than fourth. After the first 18 holes, they were T-12 at 16 over. Theegala, the No. 3-ranked player in the country, shot his worst score of the year, carding a 4-over 76.
It sure didn’t help that the Chino Hills, California, native was using a wedge to putt for four holes down the stretch.
“I was on No. 11 and missed a three and a half footer for birdie. It was a graphite shaft so I assumed if I kicked it, nothing would happen,” said Theegala after his round on Monday. “I didn’t actually kick it with my foot, I just hit it up against my leg. There was a small bend, I didn’t even know I bent it right away.”
Southern Highlands: Team Leaderboard | Individual
More: Tour pro plays coach for a day at alma mater UCLA
Theegala realized the damage on the next hole, noting how the bend messed with the lie and loft. So, he putted with a wedge for three holes.
“I tried to put the putter back in and missed a four-footer, so I said ‘alright forget this.’ I didn’t have to putt on 16, I actually tried the putter again on 17 and three-putted from like 20 feet so on 18 I had a 15-footer and pulled the wedge out again.”
SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS: Watch the final round LIVE on Tuesday, March 3. Part of College Golf Live’s 2020 Spring Series.
Here’s how Theegala performed putting with a wedge: Two-putt from 40 feet on No. 12, made an eight-footer for birdie on No. 13, tapped in on No. 14 and used it from 15 feet on No. 18.
“Funny enough, in Hawaii I let (teammate William Mouw) use my old putter that I used for three and a half years after the first round because he didn’t putt well. He ended up winning with my old putter,” said Theegala on Monday. “He used it for the last tournament and the first round yesterday. I have a new putter, the exact same one, so I gave him the new one and took back the old one.”
Old faithful was back in full force for Theegala on Monday, guiding him to the day’s low-round of 7-under 65 despite chilly temperatures and high winds. Entering Tuesday’s final round, Theegala sits T-4 at 3 under, seven shots behind leader Yuxin Lin of USC.
Despite boasting the best score of the tournament thus far, Theegala knows he left some more birdies out on the course.
“I actually had a lot of missed opportunities on the greens,” said Theegala. “I hit really good puts, I just had a lot of lip-outs. I was hitting it really well. I still feel like I could have made a few more, but I’m not complaining.”
[lawrence-related id=778029510,778029458,778029288]