%20(1).png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
Zuska Paces Cardinals at the NCAA Championships
May 24, 2019 | Men's Golf
Jiri Zuska fires an even-par 72 on Friday.
JOHNSON, Arkansas - Heading into the NCAA Men's Golf Championships this weekend, head coach Mark Crabtree knew his young team faced a challenge with the big stage of the national championship, and the length and toughness of Blessings Golf Course.
The 19th-year head coach knew exactly what he was talking about as the Cardinals started the first round of the NCAA Championships by shooting a 25-over-par 314 to sit in a tie for 27th place after Friday's round.
Playing in windy, hot conditions, the senior-less Cardinals, who were playing with three juniors and two underclassmen, battled the 7,550-yard course in 88-degree heat. However, the Cardinals weren't the only team to put up a high numbers, as all 30 teams carded scores over par.
"It was a very tough start," Crabtree said. "It's a very difficult golf course, but we made it a lot harder at times. It's the national championship. It was a rough beginning, but we'll have to go and make some adjustments for tomorrow. We have to go out tomorrow and do things a little different."
While four of the five Cardinals shot over par, Crabtree was pleased with the score of freshman Jiri Zuska, who put together one of his best rounds of the season. Â
"For a player to go out on this golf course and shoot even par, is a great golf score," Crabtree said. "It was probably his best round of the season for him."
"That's very positive. Hopefully, he can build on it. At the end of the day, it will probably be one of the top 15 or 20 scores on the board for the day."
Zuska, who shot a combined 13-over-par at the ACC Championship and the NCAA Regional, played to his capabilities in the first round of the championship by carding an even-par 72 on one of the toughest golf courses in the country.
After shooting a 2-over-par on his first five holes, the native of Kladno, Czech Republic, worked his way back to even after his birdies on No. 11, No. 13 and No. 15.Â
The rookie is tied for 19th-place, but is just four shots off the lead.
The Cardinals top player all season, Matthias Schmid, shot a 10-over-par 82, which was his highest score of the year.
It looked early on that the Cardinals might be able to survive one of the nation's toughest golf courses after Schmid birdied the first two holes of the championship. He put the Cardinals on the board with a 30-foot birdie putt on the first hole and scored again on No. 2. However, like everyone else in the field, the course got the best of him.
Devin Morley fired a 6-over-par 78 on the day, but showed signs of promise on the back nine. He recorded birdies on No. 13 and No. 14 before registering an eagle on the next hole. However, the junior gave most of it back with a double bogey on No. 16.
John Murphy fired a 9-over-par 81, while Trevor Johnson carded an 89 to round out the field for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals, who will be paired with Pepperdine and North Florida, return to action on Saturday with a 1:22 tee time.
Â
The 19th-year head coach knew exactly what he was talking about as the Cardinals started the first round of the NCAA Championships by shooting a 25-over-par 314 to sit in a tie for 27th place after Friday's round.
Playing in windy, hot conditions, the senior-less Cardinals, who were playing with three juniors and two underclassmen, battled the 7,550-yard course in 88-degree heat. However, the Cardinals weren't the only team to put up a high numbers, as all 30 teams carded scores over par.
"It was a very tough start," Crabtree said. "It's a very difficult golf course, but we made it a lot harder at times. It's the national championship. It was a rough beginning, but we'll have to go and make some adjustments for tomorrow. We have to go out tomorrow and do things a little different."
While four of the five Cardinals shot over par, Crabtree was pleased with the score of freshman Jiri Zuska, who put together one of his best rounds of the season. Â
"For a player to go out on this golf course and shoot even par, is a great golf score," Crabtree said. "It was probably his best round of the season for him."
"That's very positive. Hopefully, he can build on it. At the end of the day, it will probably be one of the top 15 or 20 scores on the board for the day."
Zuska, who shot a combined 13-over-par at the ACC Championship and the NCAA Regional, played to his capabilities in the first round of the championship by carding an even-par 72 on one of the toughest golf courses in the country.
After shooting a 2-over-par on his first five holes, the native of Kladno, Czech Republic, worked his way back to even after his birdies on No. 11, No. 13 and No. 15.Â
The rookie is tied for 19th-place, but is just four shots off the lead.
The Cardinals top player all season, Matthias Schmid, shot a 10-over-par 82, which was his highest score of the year.
It looked early on that the Cardinals might be able to survive one of the nation's toughest golf courses after Schmid birdied the first two holes of the championship. He put the Cardinals on the board with a 30-foot birdie putt on the first hole and scored again on No. 2. However, like everyone else in the field, the course got the best of him.
Devin Morley fired a 6-over-par 78 on the day, but showed signs of promise on the back nine. He recorded birdies on No. 13 and No. 14 before registering an eagle on the next hole. However, the junior gave most of it back with a double bogey on No. 16.
John Murphy fired a 9-over-par 81, while Trevor Johnson carded an 89 to round out the field for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals, who will be paired with Pepperdine and North Florida, return to action on Saturday with a 1:22 tee time.
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
MGOLF: Sebastian Moss Feature
Friday, August 01
Ryan Blagg Men's Golf Media Day Press Conference 02.12.25
Friday, May 16
Men's Golf Media Day 2023
Tuesday, January 24
MGOLF Jiri Zuska Feature
Thursday, September 29
