MGOLF | Dons Blast Field in Record Setting Day - University of San Francisco Athletics

Saturday, April 24

Riverside Country Club | Provo, Utah

University of San Francisco

Round Three

Tim-Widing-USF-Dons-Men's-Golf-tee-shot-WCC

Photo by: Kyle Terada

MGOLF | Dons Blast Field in Record Setting Day

4/24/2021 5:08:00 PM | Men's Golf

PROVO, Utah – The University of San Francisco men's golf team took home yet another team title, winning the Ping Cougar Classic in record fashion. The Dons shot a program-record 21-under par to finish the tournament with a program record 41-under par, shooting 823 (274-282-267) for the three rounds. Captain Tim Widing finished tied for first to capture his third career individual championship.

The 21-under was buoyed by the Dons' tremendous final round. USF had all five players shoot under par, with four players finishing in the top 10. USF finished 13 strokes ahead of second place Boise State, which finished the tournament 28-under par. In third place was host BYU, which finished 26-under par at the Riverside Country Club.

"This week was the final stamp on an incredible regular season," said head coach Jack Kennedy.
"The final round today will be one for the history books. For the first time this year, we had all five guys bring it today. When it all clicks, this is how special this group can be."

Widing posted three straight rounds under par, all in the 60s, to shoot a 13-under 203 (67-67-69). The Dons' captain had four birdies on the day, giving him 16 for the tournament. Widing's day began with three straight pars to wrap up his second round, before finishing off with a solid 3-under 69 in the final round.

"We are all very happy for Tim," said Kennedy of his captain. "He has worked so hard, and to see him get the breakthrough win is very special."

This is Widing's fifth top-10 finish of the year and 24th of his brilliant career. The three rounds under par gives him 12 for the year, and 70 for his career.

Soren Lind continues his excellent play. The Dons' fourth-year player finished in third place, one back of Widing. Lind finished the tournament with a 5-under 67. For the tournament, he shot a 12-under 204 (70-67-67). Lind opened the round with his third-straight day shooting under par on the front-9, but on the back he was terrific. He shot four under, thanks to a string of four-straight birdies on holes 13 through 16.

Christoffer Palsson climbed 22 spots on the leaderboard on the final day to finish tied for seventh. The third-year player shot an 8-under 208 (70-74-64) thanks to an 8-under final round. His bogey-free round began with a par on the first hole, he then birdied two, five, seven, and nine to go 4-under at the turn. A strong finish saw him birdie 14, 15, 16, and 18 to finish the tournament with 16 birdies, which was tied for fourth most.

Toby Briggs climbed nine spots on the final round to capture his second top-10 finish of the spring. Briggs shot a 7-under 209 (68-74-67) to finish tied for ninth. After going even on the front nine, Briggs turned it on on the back-9, recording five-straight birdies on 13 through 17.

Matthew Anderson finished the round with a 3-under 69. For the tournament, Anderson shot a 3-under 213 (69-74-69).

With the tournament win, the Dons have now won an unprecedented four tournaments this spring.

"Now the real season starts!" exclaimed Kennedy. "We can't wait to get to Vegas where anything can happen."

The Dons will return to action on Thursday, April 29 in the first round of the West Coast Conference Championships. The WCC Championship will take place at Reflection Bay Golf Club in Henderson, Nev.