University of San Diego surges into lead on second day of Prestige college golf event

On a day that saw one of the top teams from the first round stumble, the University of San Diego moved into the lead after the second round of the Prestige college golf tournament in La Quinta.

The Toreros fired a team score of 8-under 276 on the par-71 Norman Course at PGA West on Tuesday, giving the team an 11-under total for 36 holes under the five-play, four-count format. That’s good for a six-shot lead over Kansas, which maintained its second-place position in the team competition despite shooting a 1-over 285 on the clear, warm day in La Quinta.

Northwestern and Little Rock moved into a tie for third, with both teams shooting 3-under team scores for the day to reach 4 under for the tournament.

First-round leader North Carolina fell back on a day when all four of its counted scores shot over par. The Tar Heels finished 13-over par for the day and dropped to 13th place in the 24-team field, 15 shots behind the Toreros.

The individual highlight of the round came from Nicklaus Mason of Kansas State, who scored the first hole in one of the event this year. Mason aced the 216-yard 13th hole at the Norman Course, part of an even-par 71 round.

In the individual competition, overnight co-leader Kobe Valociek of Kansas State grabbed the solo lead with a 69, moving him to 7-under 135 entering Wednesday’s final round. That’s good for a one-shot lead over three golfers — Sam Renner of Washington State, Collin Hodgkinson of Oregon State and Jake Hibbert of Florida Atlantic. Renner and Hodgkinson each shot 69 on the day, while Hibbert shot 67.

More: David Ford leads North Carolina to first-day lead at Prestige college golf event

Valociek was 1-over for the day with three birdies and four bogeys until he birdied three consecutive holes, starting at the 15th.

One of the first-round co-leaders, David Ford of North Carolina, struggled Tuesday along with his team. Ford, ranked sixth in the country and leading the PGA Tour U rankings for the 2024-25 season, shot 41 on his first nine holes, the back nine at the Norman Course, and finished with a 75 and dropped to 23rd overall.

For the Toreros, Cooper Humphreys led the way with a 68, while Ryan Abaun and Ian Maspat each shot 69. You Seoung Choi shot 70 and Jaden Cantafio shot 71, the score that was tossed out for the team on the day.

For Wednesday’s final round, the top 12 teams after 36 holes will tee off in the morning wave, with tee times starting at 6:45 a.m. on the first and 10th tees of the Norman Course. Admission to the tournament is free.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: University of San Diego takes second-round lead in Prestige college golf event