SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Grayhawk's Raptor Course showed its teeth on Saturday afternoon, but Cole Bradley remains in contention for a National Championship.
Bradley tallied a 3-over par 73 to finish 36 holes in 1-under par 139 (66-73), good for an 11th-place tie after two rounds at the NCAA Championships.
Playing in more-difficult conditions in the afternoon wave, Bradley had a more-difficult time managing the 7,300-yard, par-70 layout, recording six bogeys, three birdies and nine pars en route to his round of 73. The bogeys were his first in over two full rounds, dating to the second round of NCAA Regionals at the Sagamore Golf Club on May 18.
After the first round, there were 26 players at 1-under par or better, led by Bradley's 4-under par round of 66. Through 36 holes, that number has dwindled to 15 as round two's scoring average was over a half-stroke higher than the first round. Saturday's morning wave saw 16 players with rounds in the 60s, while the afternoon wave had just three players with rounds in the 60s.
Starting on the back nine, Bradley bogeyed No. 10 to fall to 3-under par for the competition, but would birdie No. 11 to move back to 4-under par. He would bogey 12, then birdie 15 to move back to 4-under before bogeying 18 to make the turn at 1-over for his round.
He then bogeyed Nos. 4, 6 and 8, sandwiching a birdie on 7 for his 3-over par 73.
The round of 73 snapped a streak of nine straight rounds of even-par or better in NCAA competition, dating to his freshman season at NCAA Regionals.
Bradley will tee off the third round on Sunday at 8:22 a.m. PT / 11:22 a.m. ET, off hole No. 10. The top nine individuals not on one of the 15 advancing teams will advance to Monday's final round to determine the individual National Champion. Currently, the individual leader not on a top-15 team is Oregon State's Carson Berry (-4). Texas' Travis Vick is next at 2-under par, while Bradley is third at 1-under par. Through 36 holes, the ninth-place score not on a top-15 advancing team is 3-over par.
Bradley tallied a 3-over par 73 to finish 36 holes in 1-under par 139 (66-73), good for an 11th-place tie after two rounds at the NCAA Championships.
Playing in more-difficult conditions in the afternoon wave, Bradley had a more-difficult time managing the 7,300-yard, par-70 layout, recording six bogeys, three birdies and nine pars en route to his round of 73. The bogeys were his first in over two full rounds, dating to the second round of NCAA Regionals at the Sagamore Golf Club on May 18.
After the first round, there were 26 players at 1-under par or better, led by Bradley's 4-under par round of 66. Through 36 holes, that number has dwindled to 15 as round two's scoring average was over a half-stroke higher than the first round. Saturday's morning wave saw 16 players with rounds in the 60s, while the afternoon wave had just three players with rounds in the 60s.
Starting on the back nine, Bradley bogeyed No. 10 to fall to 3-under par for the competition, but would birdie No. 11 to move back to 4-under par. He would bogey 12, then birdie 15 to move back to 4-under before bogeying 18 to make the turn at 1-over for his round.
He then bogeyed Nos. 4, 6 and 8, sandwiching a birdie on 7 for his 3-over par 73.
The round of 73 snapped a streak of nine straight rounds of even-par or better in NCAA competition, dating to his freshman season at NCAA Regionals.
Bradley will tee off the third round on Sunday at 8:22 a.m. PT / 11:22 a.m. ET, off hole No. 10. The top nine individuals not on one of the 15 advancing teams will advance to Monday's final round to determine the individual National Champion. Currently, the individual leader not on a top-15 team is Oregon State's Carson Berry (-4). Texas' Travis Vick is next at 2-under par, while Bradley is third at 1-under par. Through 36 holes, the ninth-place score not on a top-15 advancing team is 3-over par.