Northridge Scores Soar as NCAA Hopes Fade

The plan seemed reasonable based on the Cal State Northridge golf team’s regular-season performance.

The Matadors, 18 strokes off the pace after the first round of the NCAA Division II men’s championships, surmised that they could go out and shoot the low round Wednesday at the 6,465-yard, par-71 Oaks Course at the Tan-Tar-A Resort and Golf Club and climb back into contention for their first title since 1974.

But the plan, like the Matadors’ putting, was way off the mark.

Northridge shot a 36-over-par 320, the highest round of the day, and fell from fifth to 10th place in the 16-team tournament.

Coupled with a first-round 309, Wednesday’s score gave the Matadors a total of 629 that left them 37 strokes behind leader and defending national champion Tampa.

“I guess you could say it’s kind of embarrassing, as bad as we’ve played, because we’re a much better team than that,” said Northridge Coach Jim Bracken, whose team was ranked third in the final regular-season poll. “There’s really no excuses, we just haven’t found it yet.

“The seniors wanted to go out with a national championship, but it’s not looking real strong for that right now unless something amazing happens.”

Barring mass disqualifications, it will be nearly impossible for the Matadors to catch Tampa, Florida Southern (600) and Bryant College of Rhode Island (608) in the remaining two rounds of the four-day, 72-hole tournament.

Rick Irwin was low man for Northridge on Wednesday, shooting a 3-over-par 74 that moved him from 24th place into a tie for 11th (151). Tony Chieffo shot 78 to drop from eighth into a tie for 13th.

Chieffo, who won four tournaments this season, typified the Matadors’ problems Wednesday. He made his only birdie on the 399-yard, par-4 second hole before he three-putted the third, fourth and ninth holes.

“I would have been better off putting with my sand wedge,” Chieffo said. “I’m hitting the ball good and getting birdie chances. I just have to start draining some putts.”

Jeff Leonard of Tampa has had no such problems. The defending individual champion shot a 1-under-par 70 to remain the tournament leader at 141. Bob Brown of Bryant is second at 143 and J. P. Velasco of Northeast Missouri State is third at 145.