USC
2012 NCAA Regional
Paolucci 67 Leads USC's NCAA Regional First Round
May 17, 2012 | Men's Golf
May 17, 2012
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Freshman Anthony Paolucci turned in his best round since October to lead the No. 5 USC men's golf team into sixth after the first day of the 2012 NCAA Ann Arbor (Mich.) Regional on Thursday (May 17) at the Michigan G.C.
The Trojans led early in the round but fell to the middle of the 13-team pack and finished in sixth at a combined 5-over 289, 11 back of leader TCU (278), the only team under par in the first round. Kent State took second (286) with Kennesaw State and Virginia tied for third (287) and Oregon fifth (288).
Five teams in each of the six NCAA regionals - three with 13 teams and three with 14 teams -- and the low individual not on those teams will advance to the NCAA Championship final, hosted by USC between May 29-June 3 at The Riviera C.C. in Pacific Palisades.
"The guys are all really positive and ready to play well the next two rounds," said USC sixth-year head coach Chris Zambri, who has guided the Trojans into the NCAA final in each of his first five seasons. "We showed we can get it going in the right direction and that is our plan for the next two days."
Paolucci finished at 4-under 67, tied with Baylor's Joakim Mikkelsen and TCU's Julien Brun for first. The Trojan freshman got off to a fiery start with an eagle on the par 5 3rd hole and followed it with birdies on 6, 9 and 11 to get to 5-under. From there, he bogeyed 15 to complete an even back 9 and register his second-lowest round of the season.
Senior Steve Lim is tied for 23rd 1-over 72. He was even on the front 9 with a birdie on 7 and 1-over on the back 9 with another birdie on 13.
Juniors Martin Trainer and Sam Smith and sophomore Jeffrey Kang are all tied for 42nd at 4-over 75. The trio combined for par on the front 9 but all had difficulties on the back half of the course that cost them strokes.
The Trojans will resume playing Friday (May 18) beginning at 8:20 a.m. CT with Oregon and Virginia.
