Courtesy UVA Media Relations
Second-ranked Virginia moved up six spots after it shot a 10-under, 274 as a team in the final round at the Pauma Valley Invitational in Pauma Valley, Calif. The four counting scores for the Cavaliers on Wednesday were all in the 60s.
The 278 was the best team score on the final day by three strokes. Ben James (68), Paul Chang (68), Michael Lee (69) and Maxi Puregger (69) powered the Cavalier charge that saw Virginia make the biggest move (six spots) of any team on Wednesday.
James was UVA’s top finisher in the individual leaderboard at six-under (71-71-68, 207), his seventh top five finish in seven starts this season. He carded five birdies, including two on his final four holes. The 207 was his second-best 54-hole score of the season.
Chang’s consistency of the three days led to his third top 10 of the season. His three-day total of 208 (70-70-68, 5-under) put him in a four-way tie for eighth place. He totaled 14 birdies over the three rounds, the fourth most of anyone in the 92-player field.
Freshman Michael Lee only had one bogey on his card and etched a 69 that featured three birdies. He has four rounds in the 60s in his debut season and the 69 was his best score since the second round of the Sykes Individual back in February. Sophomore Maxi Puregger netted four birdies on his way to a final round 69. He birdied his final two holes to get under par for the day.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Chang and James played the par 5s at 6-under (4.33) throughout the tournament, tied for the best in the field.
- As a team, Oklahoma State and Virginia held the best scoring average of 4.04 (6-over) on the par 4s.
- Ben James added to his school record with his 32nd top 10 of his Cavalier career.
UP NEXT
Virginia will send select individuals to the Golden Horseshoe Intercollegiate in Williamsburg (March 23-24) next week before The Calusa Cup in Naples, Fla. on April 6-8, the final road tournament of the regular season for the Cavaliers.
LEADERBOARD
| PL. | TEAM | RD 1 | RD 2 | RD 3 | TOTAL | TO PAR |
| T1. | Tennessee | 273 | 284 | 279 | 836 | -16 |
| T1. | Georgia Tech | 280 | 278 | 278 | 836 | -16 |
| T3. | Florida | 285 | 274 | 280 | 839 | -13 |
| T3. | LSU | 283 | 279 | 277 | 839 | -13 |
| 5. | Oklahoma State | 279 | 285 | 280 | 844 | -8 |
| T6. | Illinois | 287 | 277 | 282 | 846 | -6 |
| T6. | Virginia | 287 | 285 | 274 | 846 | -6 |
| 8. | SMU | 281 | 285 | 281 | 847 | -5 |
| 9. | Ole Miss | 276 | 289 | 288 | 853 | +1 |
| 10. | Texas Tech | 283 | 285 | 287 | 855 | +3 |
| 11. | ETSU | 292 | 287 | 278 | 857 | +5 |
| 13. | San Diego State | 285 | 291 | 284 | 860 | +8 |
| 10. | San Diego | 284 | 286 | 292 | 862 | +10 |
| T14. | Toledo | 290 | 287 | 288 | 865 | +13 |
| T14. | Loyola Marymount | 293 | 278 | 294 | 865 | +13 |
| 16. | Colorado State | 293 | 297 | 293 | 883 | +31 |
VIRGINIA
| PL. | PLAYER | RD 1 | RD 2 | RD 3 | TOTAL | TO PAR |
| T5. | Ben James | 71 | 71 | 68 | 207 | -6 |
| T8. | Paul Chang | 70 | 70 | 68 | 208 | -5 |
| T48. | Michael Lee | 75 | 72 | 69 | 216 | +3 |
| T57. | Maxi Puregger | 73 | 75 | 69 | 217 | +4 |
| T75. | Josh Duangmanee | 73 | 77 | 72 | 222 | +9 |
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