STOCKTON, Calif. – After shooting a program record 14-under to begin the West coast Conference Championships, the University of San Francisco had to battle to maintain their position on the leaderboard on the second day.  The Dons did just that, after overcoming a slow start USF maintains its lead after 36 holes, holding off a surging Pepperdine team, the Dons finished the afternoon with a 3-over 291 giving USF a two-day score of 11-over 565 (274-291). 
 
"Today was a real fight," said head coach Jack Kennedy. "Playing in the tougher conditions made it a challenge but we handled adversity well and have put ourselves in position to win a conference championship. I'm very proud of our guys and have all the confidence in the world tomorrow will be a great day!"
 
The Dons have three players in the top-10 and are led by junior Tim Widing who played mistake free golf on Friday to finish the day in fourth climbing eight spots on the leaderboard. Right behind him in a three-way tie at fifth is freshman Christoffer Palsson who is one stroke up on Toby Briggs who is in sole possession of eighth.
 
Widing opened the round just outside the top-10 at 12^th.  He got into the top-5 after finishing the day with a 3-under 69.  For the tournament, Widing has a 4-under 140 (71-69) on the card.  Widing opened the round with five-straight pars before recording an eagle on the par-5 fifth.  At 2-under at the turn a birdie on 11 had him 3-under for the afternoon. 
 
Palsson maintains his place as the top freshman on the leaderboard after 36 holes.  He finished the day with a 2-over 74.  For the tournament he is now 3-under at 141 (67-74).  After recording seven birdies in the opening round Palsson added two more birdies in the second round on holes six and seven giving him nine for the tournament. 
 
Briggs opened the round atop the leaderboard but after starting the round bogey, double bogey, double bogey he had work to do to remain in the top-10, which is exactly what he did.  Briggs recorded birdies on five, seven, and nine.  He finished the round at 4-over, for the tournament he is 2-under at 142 (66-76). 
 
Soren Lind is in fourth the Dons and is just outside the top-10 after a strong second round.  Lind finished the afternoon at 12^th after recording a second consecutive round at even par.  For the tournament he's even at 144 (72-72).
 
After 36 holes Alex Chin is tied for 20^th with a 2-over 146 (70-76).  Chin opened the round 3-over at the turn, on the back-9 birdies at 13 and 14 had him 1-over before carding a double on 18 saw him finish the round 4-over.
 
After 36 holes, the Dons hold a two stroke lead Pepperdine who shot a 10-under 278 on the day, the were one of just two teams to finish the round under par.  The Waves' Joshua McCarthy is the individual leader at 8-under 136 (70-66).
 
The Dons will play in the championship group tomorrow morning, teeing off at 9:20 a.m. with BYU and Pepperdine.