LA QUINTA (California) — Ludvig Aberg won Wednesday’s third consecutive Prestige at PGA West Individual Golf title.
Aberg, a Texas Tech senior, shot a 1-under 70 under wind conditions. Officials considered cancelling the round at the Norman Course at PGA West La Quinta. Aberg managed to beat Stanford’s Michael Thorbjornsen in the round, despite playing six of the last holes in 3-over.
After years of trying to win the Prestige title but failing in the desert event, Michael Beard, the head coach of the Pepperdine Waves, finally won the Prestige title.
Beard said, “What do you have, four runners-up finishes here?” He was a high school golfer at Palm Desert High School, and was also a co-champion for the Prestige individual title.
Some golfers didn’t complete their second round Tuesday due to a suspension by strong winds, making the long day at Norman Course even more difficult. Aberg, Thorbjornsen, and William Mouw from Pepperdine started the third round with a shotgun start at 10:30 AM. They were joined by Aberg, Thorbjornsen, and William Mouw.
Aberg was the winner of the Prestige title in 2022, and was also one of three players who tied in the 2021 individual title. Aberg’s victory will allow him to keep his lead in PGA Tour U in the race for a PGA Tour card. It could also help him improve his No. Thorbjornsen is currently second in the World Amateur Golf Rankings at No. 3.
Aberg, Thorbjornsen, and Mouw were all below par for the front nine. However, as the wind picked up, scores increased.
Aberg described the wind as “very bad”. It was a lot worse than I expected. It was borderline playable at first, but it is actually very playable today.
During the last round of the Prestige college tournament, Ludvig aberg from Texas Tech (in white), Stanford’s Michael Thorbjornsen in red, and Texas Tech’s Ludvig aberg walk down the second fairway on Wednesday, February 22, 2023. This was held on the Norman Course of PGA West, La Quinta, Calif.
The key putts were the difference
After eight holes, Thorbjornsen was down three shots. Aberg, however, rallied to take a one shot lead after 13 holes. He made birdie putsts of 30, 20, and 12 feet on the ninth and 11th holes. Thorbjornsen missed the 13th hole. Thorbjornsen had to abandon his putts twice on the 13th hole because his ball was moving in wind gusts exceeding 30 mph.
Aberg stated that he made several in the middle round of his putting. “Once you have seen one drop, you want more and more.”
Thorbjornsen birdied 14th to tie for second at 9 under. Mouw was two shots behind, having birdied the 12th but bogeyed 13th. Thorbjornsen took the lead with a bogey at the 15th hole, when Aberg double-bogeyed par 4, and Mouw made birdie. After that, the wind continued to take its toll on players with Thorbjornsen making consecutive double-bogeys at the 16th hole and 17th. Aberg extended his lead to two shots on the 16th with a par, while Mouw bogeyed par 5.
Mouw missed a birdie putt of 15 feet on the 18th. Aberg, however, missed the green on the Par 4 and made bogey. The Red Raiders star won by one shot.
Aberg stated that “We all played well in our group.” “We were there for almost seven hours on a day like that.” Some things will happen when you play so long. It’s okay to accept and embrace it.
Mouw’s second place performance was a big help to the Waves, with Beard stating that he believes Mouw is in the same category of Aberg and Thorbjornsen.
Pepperdine’s William Mouw makes his putt on second green during Wednesday’s final round of Prestige college golf tournament at PGA West in La Quinta (Calif.), Feb. 22, 2023.
Beard stated, “You’ll see them all together a lot this season.”
Pepperdine was at 14 under and had a four-shot advantage over Stanford in the final round. Pepperdine’s 8-over 292 team score was its highest, but its 54-hole total 6 under was enough to defeat Texas Tech by five shots. Texas Tech shot 289 Wednesday while Stanford was third with a 3 over score for the week.
Beard stated, “We have an amazing team.” It’s hard to tell because it’s so early in spring. As the year progresses, you seem to learn more about your team. This team is strong.
Riccardo Fantinelli, Princeton, won the Prestige Individual Invitational at Terra Lago Golf Resort in Indio with a 3-under-69. This gave him the title of 5-under 211. Chris Berzina, Texas Christian, finished at 4 under. He also shot a 1-over-73 Wednesday in windy conditions.
