Washington State safety Jalen Thompson added to
Bednarik Award watch list
Mon., July 16, 2018, 9:49 a.m.
Story by Theo Lawson, Spokane S-R
Photo source:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DdW9NJ4XUAE82oL.jpg:large
PULLMAN – Jalen Thompson is presumed
to be one of the top returning safeties in the Pac-12 Conference this season
and Monday, the Washington State junior was named to a watch list featuring the
top defensive players in the country.
Thompson, who led the Cougars in
total tackles from his spot in the defensive secondary (73) last season and
posted four interceptions to finish third in the conference, was named to the
Bednarik Award watch list, the Maxwell Club announced. He’s one of 10 Pac-12
players to make the cut for the honor given to the nation’s top defenseman.
The Downey, California, native
started in all 13 games for the Cougars as a sophomore and tied for the Pac-12
lead in fumble recoveries en route to being named to the All-Pac-12 Second Team
and the Associated Press All-Pac-12 First Team. That followed a freshman season
in which Thompson was named to the True Freshman All-America Team by ESPN after
he recorded 51 tackles and a team-high seven pass breakups.
Thompson, along with senior wide
receiver Kyle Sweet, will represent the Cougars at Pac-12 Media Day on July 25
in Hollywood.
From the Pac-12, Oregon’s Jalen
Jelks and Troy Dye, Stanford’s Alijah Holder and Bobby Okereke, USC’s Porter
Gustin, Cameron Smith and Marvell Tell and Washington’s Greg Gaines and Taylor
Rapp also made the watch list.
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(Concerning
the story below. It says the ”former Washington State Cougar.” Of course, there’s
no such thing. Once a Cougar, always a Cougar!)
Derek Bayley
finishes strong, earns second Rosauers championship
UPDATED:
Sun., July 15, 2018, 9:09 p.m.
By Jim
Meehan S-R of Spokane
Derek Bayley
was in the middle of his seventh consecutive day of tournament golf and
everything was going just fine.
The former
Washington State Cougar made the turn with a four-stroke cushion in Sunday’s
final round of the Rosauers Open Invitational at Indian Canyon. Three holes
later, Bayley’s lead was down to one after a couple of bogeys with a pack of
quality players in pursuit.
Bayley
needed a strong finish and he found plenty left in the gas tank. The amateur
played the final six holes in 3 under, including birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 to
clinch his second Rosauers title.
Asked if was
tired of playing, Bayley said, “Never, no, absolutely not. I live for this. I
love the game of golf. I’m enjoying it more and more, and obviously winning
helps.
“I enjoy the
grind. You’re going to be tired and fatigued, especially the guys that play
every week on the (PGA) tour. I’m kind of mentally and physically preparing
myself for that and hopefully later on down the road I cross that path.”
Bayley, who
moved into contention with a 9-under 62 Saturday, closed with a 66 to finish at
13-under 200. He’s the only amateur with two Rosauers titles and the only
player in the 31-year history to win at the Canyon and MeadowWood, site of his
eight-shot victory two years ago.
There was a
six-way tie for second at 10-under 203 with Lewiston amateur Jason Molner and
pros Jeff Coston, Tim Feenstra, John Eisentrout, Scott Erdmann and Shane
Prante. Bayley, who tentatively plans on turning pro this winter, received $750
instead of the $11,000 first-place check. The five pros each earned $6,300.
“I’m hoping
a few years down road that $11,000 will be miniscule to me,” said Bayley, who
spent the first part of the week competing at the Pacific Northwest Amateur.
“At the time, it’s always easy to say I wish I had 11 grand in my pocket but
I’m hoping this leads to bigger and better things for me.”
Bayley’s
scorecard was a jumbled mix of circles (seven birdies), squares (four bogeys)
and one double circle (eagle). He took control with three straight birdies,
dropping a 4-foot putt on No. 6, a 13-footer on No. 7 and stuffing his tee shot
on the tough, 224-yard eighth within 3 feet of the cup.
Bayley’s
biggest circle came on the par-3 13th. He made messy bogeys on 10 and 12, but
he quickly atoned by dropping his tee shot on No. 13 about 10 feet from the
hole. He rolled that putt in to get to 11 under.
Bayley was
just off the right side of the par-4 17th green and he lobbed a tricky pitch
about 7 feet past the hole. He offered a fist pump when the birdie putt
disappeared, knowing he held a two-shot lead. He finished with a two-putt
birdie on No. 18.
“That was a
roller-coaster for sure,” Bayley said. “The funny part is I kind of pride
myself on making a lot of pars. That’s just golf. I say it all the time: golf
happens.”
David Brown,
assistant pro at Arrowhead Golf Club in Molalla, Oregon, led by one after the
second round but a slow start left him two back after No. 2. He shot a 71 and
finished in a four-way tie for sixth along with North Idaho College golf coach
Russell Grove, who took the lead briefly with birdies on 2 and 3.
“It just wasn’t meant to be,” said Grove, who shot a 70. “Honestly I didn’t play well
this week and nothing really went my way.”
Bayley’s busy summer continues with a U.S. Amateur qualifier Wednesday at Palouse Ridge,
WSU’s home course. That’s followed by the Pacific Coast Amateur in San
Francisco and the Western Amateur near Chicago.
He’s earned a rare day off, but don’t count on it.
“We’ll see,” Bayley said of his Monday plans. “I might play in the Pro-Am.”
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