The University of Mississippi Athletics
Vongchaisit Goes Low on Day One at Stanford Regional
5/13/2019 | Men's Golf
Freshman Fires First Round 66, Tied for Second Individually
STANFORD, Calif. - Sarut Vongchaisit fired a career-low 66 in the first round of the NCAA Stanford Regional Monday afternoon, good for the lowest single-round score in program history at an NCAA Regional. The freshman stepped up in a big way after joining the lineup due to an injury to senior Beau Briggs.
The Rebels, as a team, are tied for fifth after the first 18, opening up with a 2-over 282. Birdies at No. 16 by Jackson Suber and Vongchaisit down the stretch pushed Ole Miss into the top-5 on the leaderboard.
Ole Miss sits eight shots back of host, No. 12 Stanford, who shot a first round 6-under 274. The Rebels shot 4-under as a squad on the par 5s today and recorded 15 birdies on the par-70 course.
"We did not get off to the greatest of starts, but the young guys really hung in there," head coach Chris Malloy said. "Sarut was in a make or break spot, and he really gave us some momentum going on that front nine. All the guys really battled coming in."
Vongchaisit, making his postseason debut for Ole Miss, tied for the second lowest round of the day with his first round 4-under. The freshman made the turn at 3-under, going bogey free with four birdies until his first miscue at No. 9. A birdie on No. 10 put the freshman back on track before finishing even par the last eight holes on his way to his new career low. The 66 was not only the best by a Rebel in an NCAA Regional, but it tied for the lowest in any NCAA tournament. Vongchaisit matched 66s fired by Braden Thornberry (2017) and Jon Bartlett (2000), who recorded their low rounds at the national championship stage.
"I felt really confident on the first tee and after making birdie on that first hole, I knew it was going to be a good day for me," Vongchaisit said.
The Bangkok, Thailand, native sits just two shots back of the individual leader, Jake Vincent of Southern Utah, who shot a first round 6-under 64.
"Sarut was great from the start," Malloy said. "Coming in not knowing if he's going to be the guy or not, his first postseason round was amazing. It was certainly a bright spot for us and something to build around."
Cecil Wegener and Jack Gnam opened up with 1-over 71s and are in the top-25 individually.
Wegner started out his regional with an eagle, one of just three eagles on the day at the par-5 1st hole. The sophomore went even on the back nine to finish at 1-over for the day.
Gnam, making his NCAA Regional debut, had an up-and-down front nine that started with a double-bogey. However, he turned it around on the back, going 1-under. The freshman capped off his round with a birdie on No. 18, one of three on the back nine for him on day one.
Jackson Suber shot a first round 4-over 74 and is tied for 52nd individually. The freshman played the par-3s and par-5s under par, going 1-under and 2-under respectively.
Second round play is set to begin Tuesday morning with tee times for Ole Miss starting __. The Rebels will be paired with _ and _.
"After one round, we're in a really good position," Malloy said. "We need to come out and play a little bit cleaner tomorrow but overall we're in a good spot."
T-2. Vongchaisit: 66 (-4)
T-25. Gnam: 71 (+1)
T-25. Wegener: 71 (+1)
T-52. Suber: 74 (+4)
74. Seiple: 79 (+9)
1. No. 12 Stanford: 274 (-6)
2. UNCG: 275 (-5)
3. Georgia Southern: 278 (-2)
4. No. 26 North Carolina: 280 (E)
T-5. No. 36 South Florida: 282 (+2)
T-5. Ole Miss: 282 (+2)
7. No. 2 Arizona State: 283 (+3)
8. No. 47 Virginia: 286 (+6)
9. No. 14 LSU: 287 (+7)
T-10. No. 38 Kansas: 288 (+8)
T-10. Denver: 288 (+8)
12. No. 24 NC State: 290 (+10)
13. Augusta: 302 (+22)
The Rebels, as a team, are tied for fifth after the first 18, opening up with a 2-over 282. Birdies at No. 16 by Jackson Suber and Vongchaisit down the stretch pushed Ole Miss into the top-5 on the leaderboard.
Ole Miss sits eight shots back of host, No. 12 Stanford, who shot a first round 6-under 274. The Rebels shot 4-under as a squad on the par 5s today and recorded 15 birdies on the par-70 course.
"We did not get off to the greatest of starts, but the young guys really hung in there," head coach Chris Malloy said. "Sarut was in a make or break spot, and he really gave us some momentum going on that front nine. All the guys really battled coming in."
Vongchaisit, making his postseason debut for Ole Miss, tied for the second lowest round of the day with his first round 4-under. The freshman made the turn at 3-under, going bogey free with four birdies until his first miscue at No. 9. A birdie on No. 10 put the freshman back on track before finishing even par the last eight holes on his way to his new career low. The 66 was not only the best by a Rebel in an NCAA Regional, but it tied for the lowest in any NCAA tournament. Vongchaisit matched 66s fired by Braden Thornberry (2017) and Jon Bartlett (2000), who recorded their low rounds at the national championship stage.
"I felt really confident on the first tee and after making birdie on that first hole, I knew it was going to be a good day for me," Vongchaisit said.
The Bangkok, Thailand, native sits just two shots back of the individual leader, Jake Vincent of Southern Utah, who shot a first round 6-under 64.
"Sarut was great from the start," Malloy said. "Coming in not knowing if he's going to be the guy or not, his first postseason round was amazing. It was certainly a bright spot for us and something to build around."
Cecil Wegener and Jack Gnam opened up with 1-over 71s and are in the top-25 individually.
Wegner started out his regional with an eagle, one of just three eagles on the day at the par-5 1st hole. The sophomore went even on the back nine to finish at 1-over for the day.
Gnam, making his NCAA Regional debut, had an up-and-down front nine that started with a double-bogey. However, he turned it around on the back, going 1-under. The freshman capped off his round with a birdie on No. 18, one of three on the back nine for him on day one.
Jackson Suber shot a first round 4-over 74 and is tied for 52nd individually. The freshman played the par-3s and par-5s under par, going 1-under and 2-under respectively.
Second round play is set to begin Tuesday morning with tee times for Ole Miss starting __. The Rebels will be paired with _ and _.
"After one round, we're in a really good position," Malloy said. "We need to come out and play a little bit cleaner tomorrow but overall we're in a good spot."
the rebels
T-25. Gnam: 71 (+1)
T-25. Wegener: 71 (+1)
T-52. Suber: 74 (+4)
74. Seiple: 79 (+9)
team leaderboard
2. UNCG: 275 (-5)
3. Georgia Southern: 278 (-2)
4. No. 26 North Carolina: 280 (E)
T-5. No. 36 South Florida: 282 (+2)
T-5. Ole Miss: 282 (+2)
7. No. 2 Arizona State: 283 (+3)
8. No. 47 Virginia: 286 (+6)
9. No. 14 LSU: 287 (+7)
T-10. No. 38 Kansas: 288 (+8)
T-10. Denver: 288 (+8)
12. No. 24 NC State: 290 (+10)
13. Augusta: 302 (+22)
Players Mentioned
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