USC
The Copper Cup
Players Mentioned
USC Men's Golf Concludes First Day at The Copper Cup
January 14, 2024 | Men's Golf
Maricopa, Ariz. – The USC men's golf team began its spring campaign on Sunday morning (Jan 14.) going head-to-head with the UCLA Bruins in the first round of the Copper Cup. After a morning that was postponed to a 9:00 a.m. PT start, just over an hour behind the scheduled start time of 7:45 a.m. PST, the team fought hard throughout the day but wasn't able to find the Bruins number, and fell by a score of 9-2.
The morning started off in pairs that were selected by Coach Hankins on Saturday night (Jan. 13). He paired Sam Lape and Antonio Safa together, Gavin Aurilia with freshman Nico Dominguez, Shane Ffrench with Krando Nishiba, while Rocky Chapman played on his own. Of the 4 points that were up for grabs in the early session, the Trojans only earned 1 with Rocky Chapman winning his match 1-up. Both Safa / Lape as well as Ffrench / Nishiba went back-and-forth with their opponents throughout the round, but in the end fell to the Bruins, 1-down and 2 and 1, respectively. Aurilia and Dominguez lost their match 6 and 5.
The afternoon offered an opportunity for the Trojans to earn back some of the points they lost in the morning with 7 points on the line. However, the Trojans were unable to capitalize, tying 2 matches and losing 5. Aurilia / Ffrench led the pack, taking home a half point with their tied matches. Lape / Safa fell by a score of 2 and 1, while Nishiba lost 1-down after a close battle with UCLA's Omar Morales. Chapman couldn't seem to find the same magic as the morning, losing his match 4 and 3, while Dominquez fell by a score of 5 and 4.
The Trojans look to bounce back tomorrow (Jan. 15) with more match play against Arizona State, who fell to Arizona today after the morning and afternoon rounds. The No. 4 ranked Arizona State will be a good test for the Trojans who look to bounce back in match play. The matches will be played in the same format as they were on Sunday with a start time planned for 7:45 a.m. PT that could be pushed back due to frost delay.
THE COPPER CUP
AK-CHIN SOUTHERN DUNES GOLF CLUB
MARICOPA, ARIZONA
JAN. 14-15, 2023/PAR 72/7,330 YARDS
Morning Matches:
Chapman def. Papayoanou 1 UP
Powell/Ereno def. Lape/Safa 1 UP
Yamin/Morales def. Ffrench/Nishiba 2 & 1
An/Conlan def. Dominguez/Aurilia 6 & 5
Afternoon Matches:
Papayoanou def. Chapman 4 & 3
Ereno def. Safa 2 & 1
Powell def. Lape 2 & 1
Morales def. Nishiba 1 UP
Ffrench tied Muller
Aurilia tied Conlan
An def. Dominguez 5 & 4
