STOCKTON, Calif. – The University of San Francisco men's golf team came within three strokes of adding a 12^th conference championship. In the end, the Dons finished off a very strong weekend taking second, trailing only Pepperdine, to finish the tournament with a 10-under 854 (274-291-289). 
 
"What a week!" exclaimed head coach Jack Kennedy. "While we didn't come away with a win, I could not be prouder to coach this group. We gave ourselves a chance to win on the back-9 and that all we can ask for. This will not be the last you hear of this team."
 
The Dons opened the round with slim two stroke lead over Pepperdine but could not hold off the Waves torrid start.  Pepperdine took control of the final round early, thanks to eight birdies in the first seven holes, they finished the day 4-under and took home the championship with a 13-under 851 (289-278-284).
 
USF finished their round strong, thanks to a back-9 that saw the Dons card 11 birdies as a team.  The Dons slipped to as low as third in the standings on the front-9 but battled their way back to second. The Dons 54 hole score is their best showing at the WCC Championships since 2012 when USF recorded an 853 at the San Juan Oaks Golf Course in Hollister, Calif.
 
Four players finished in the top-20 for USF with junior Tim Widing and freshman Christoffer Palsson finishing tied for third.  Toby Briggs finished just outside the top-10 at 13^th, fellow sophomores Soren Lind and Alex Chin finished 18^th and 28^th respectively.
 
Palsson wrapped up his impressive tournament with a strong final round.  He climbed two spots on the leaderboard on the final day after recording a 1-under 71.  For the tournament, Palsson finished with a 4-under 212 (67-74-71).  Palsson opened the round 1-over on the front-9 before finishing strong, recording birdies on 11, 12, 16, and 18 to finish the back-9 2-under.  This marks the first tournament under par and his highest finish.
 
Tied with the Dons stellar freshman was his fellow countryman, Tim Widing.  Widing finished his impressive tournament run with an even par 72.  For the tournament, Widing finished with a 4-under 212 (71-69-72), he recorded nine birdies and an eagle for the tournament.  On Saturday he finished with four birdies. 
 
Briggs opened his final round with a 3-over on the front-9.  The Dons' sophomore was stellar on the back, recording birdies on 10 and 12 and played mistake free golf.  For the tournament, Briggs finished with a 1-under 215 (66-76-73).  His 12 birdies for the tournament led the Dons and finished tied for sixth most in the tournament.
 
Lind saw his string of 72s come to an end on Saturday.  He finished the tournament with a 1-over 217 (72-72-73) after finishing the day with a 1-over 73.  Lind added two more birdies to give him 11 for the tournament. 
 
Chin finished just inside the top-30 at a tie for 28^th.  The Bay Area native finished his strong tournament with a 6-over 222 (70-76-76).  Chin carded birdies on one and 12 to give him nine for the tournament.
 
Pepperdine's RJ Manke won medalist honors when he birdied the first sudden death playoff hole, edging out LMU's Riley Elmes who finished tied atop the leaderboard with a 6-under 210.
 
The Dons will now wait to see their fate.  The strong showing this weekend should be enough to get USF into the NCAA Regionals, but they will have to wait until Wednesday morning for the NCAA Selection Show.