Sept. 15, 2009

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PULLMAN, Wash. - Gonzaga University's men's golf team turned in a solid third round Tuesday led by freshman Travis Johnsen's 71 as the Bulldogs finished ninth in the Palouse Collegiate hosted by Washington State University at Palouse Ridge Golf Course.

Johnsen, from Wilsonville, Ore., had three birdies and two bogeys in his 1-under par round over the 7,308-yard, par 72 course.

The Bulldogs shot a final-round 297 for a 54-hole score of 904 to finish ninth. The host Cougars won the tournament at 873 for a 4-stroke victory over San Jose State University.

Blake Brown of Boise State University and Kevin Tucker of WSU tied for medalist honors at 208. Austin Graham of UC Davis tied the course record with a final-round 65 and finished third at 211.

"We played better and we had a better team score," Gonzaga head coach Robert Gray said.

Gray was impressed with the play of Johnsen.

"He hit 16-of-18 greens. He needed to get a couple of rounds under his belt being a freshman and everything," Gray said.

Unlike Monday when winds hampered several scores, Tuesday was calmer. The greens were still hard and fast "but we were smart about our play today. We had a better fifth score today. We need to do some work and patch some things up here and there. Today was definitely more scoreable," Gray said. "They had the same pin placements as they did at the Washington State Amateur, so they kind of had them tucked," Gray said.

Kyle Huus, playing in the No. 1 spot, is battling a sore shoulder, according to Gray. He and Derek Cheney tied with Johnsen as part of a seven-way tie for 34th.

"He played through that and came back from a bad first round," Gray said of the veteran Huus. "And Derek battled to a 77 today after getting off to a slow start."

Gray said someone has to step up to the plate and see who wants to step in to the fifth spot.

"The top four played alright but not great. There are things we need to try and do to get ready for our next tournament," Gray noted.

Gray said senior Jason Azzarito, who paced the Bulldogs with a 223 for a tie for 21st after rounds of 73-76-74, "is playing well."

"The freshmen need more experience, and some of our other guys just need to get more confidence in their swing," Gray said.

The Bulldogs will be idle until returning to action Sept. 28-29 at the Purple and Red Invitational in Salt Lake City, Utah.