Malibu's Pepperdine Sophomore Wins Spot in Genesis Open

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA -- Pepperdine sophomore Sahith Theegala shot a 2-under-par 69 Monday at The Riviera Country Club to win the Genesis Open Collegiate Showcase and a berth in the PGA Tour event beginning Thursday.

Theegala finished one stroke ahead of UCLA junior Tyler Collier and Colorado senior Jeremy Paul.

Theegala was last season's West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year and a former Diamond Bar High School standout.

Theegala also helped the Waves win the six-team best ball competition with a low net score of 58, one stroke ahead of Kentucky. The best ball competition had four-player teams of two college players, a PGA Tour professional and an amateur.

A $50,000 donation will be made to Pepperdine's golf program for the victory.

Jordan Spieth played for his alma mater, Texas, one day after winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The Longhorns were third with a low net score of 60. Spieth helped Texas to the 2012 NCAA team championship at Riviera.

Kevin Tway, the son of eight-time PGA Tour winner Bob Tway, won the Genesis Open open qualifier at Industry Hills Golf Club's Eisenhower Course on Monday, with a 7-under-par 65, one stroke ahead of Jonathan Garrick.

Kevin Dougherty of Murrieta and J.T. Poston emerged from a six-player playoff for the final two spots in the Genesis Open.

-- City News Service, photo via Shutterstock