PACIFIC PALISADES >> Pepperdine’s mens golf team has a prestigious tournament coming up Monday through Wednesday at the PGA West Greg Norman course in La Quinta.
It is, in fact, called The Prestige, sporting a 13-team field that includes Stanford, Arizona State, Oklahoma and San Diego State.
The Waves’ 19-year-old sophomore Sahith Theegala plans to play in it.
At some point.
Just as soon as he’s done with this PGA thing at Riviera.
The only amateur in the 144-player Genesis Open field, by virtue of an exemption for posting the low individual score of 69 in last Monday’s Collegiate Showcase, Theegala was tied for seventh at one point when he completed his first round Friday morning by bettering that with a 4-under 67.
The Diamond Bar High standout from Chino Hills stands tied for 20th at 3-under after going 1-over through 11 holes of his second round when play was suspended Friday afternoon.
“It’s still a little unreal that I’m inside the ropes,” said Theegala, a quarterfinalist at the 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship. “I’m lucky to be paired with two really good guys (Wesley Bryan and Kelly Kraft).”
Theegala’s father, Murli, has been a calming influence walking the course, along with several of Theegala’s uncles, cousins and members of the Pepperdine team, including head coach Michael Beard and assistant coach Armen Kirakossian.
Kirakossian was Theegala’s first choice to be his caddy for this event, but some NCAA regulations didn’t make the decision favorable. Instead, Theegala’s high school assistant coach, Jason Tuck, is on the bag.
Theegala had just made an eagle at No. 11 and was gliding along at 3-under par for the first 12 holes when play was called Thursday because of darkness. Having a night to sleep on it, he came back in the drizzling rain and added one more birdie, then escaped with impressive pars on his final three holes.
“I didn’t mind it,” Theegala said of the interruption. “I was on such a huge high to start I felt I was leveling out at the point when it stopped. It worked out to be a nice break.”
And now he gets to play more Saturday, because of another delay. Should he make the cut, there are two more rounds of experience on the course that will host the 2017 U.S. Amateur in August.
The 2016 West Coast Conference freshman of the year has a team-best 70.96 scoring average, on pace to set a Pepperdine school record, and ranked No. 38 nationally among college players by Golfweek.
“I haven’t even thought about the outcome, I just want to soak up this experience,” he said. “Once we get to the cut, we’ll take it day by day. Even if I make the cut, I’m still going out there (to the Prestige). I’m definitely not going to miss that tournament.”
Chip shots
Sam Saunders’ first-round lead is the second of his career. He shot a 7-under 64 at the 2015 Barbasol Championship for a one-stroke lead over Valencia resident and former Pepperdine standout Jason Gore before finishing the event tied for 32nd … Since 2000, the only players who have taken a lead or co-lead after the first round and ended up winning are Phil Mickelson (2009) and Aaron Baddeley (2011) … This is the fifth PGA Tour event this season to have a suspension due to weather or darkness, and the sixth event to use preferred lies in at least one round … Bryson DeChambeau, the 2015 U.S. Amateur champion, withdrew during the second round with a cut on his hand. … Vaughn Taylor withdrew after the suspension of play Friday afternoon.
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