Oregon men’s golf is down a player for the rest of this week’s NCAA National Championship at Greyhawk Country Club and the reason is not for the faint of heart.
According to a report from Golfweek, sophomore Greg Solhaug stepped on a tee that went through his shoe and foot during the second round of the event Saturday morning. The injury forced him to withdraw from the course, leaving the Ducks with just four players for the rest of the round.
The incident was confirmed to Golfweek by Oregon Assistant Athletic Director of Communications Nate Krueger.
“I’ve been in golf nearly 50 years and have never seen anything like that,” coach Casey Martin told goducks.com. “He was in a lot of pain.”
The NCAA also issued this statement: “Oregon student-athlete Gregory Solhaug suffered a foot injury during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships and was forced to withdraw from competition. Oregon, which completed Saturday’s second round with four players, will have the option to substitute another player into their team lineup for subsequent competition rounds, as they deem appropriate.”
Solhaug was two over for 10 holes when the injury occurred after shooting a 75 in Round 1 Friday. His WD meant Oregon had to count Greyson Leach’s 7-over 77 Saturday in the play-five-count-four format. That put Oregon in 22nd place heading into the third round, seven shots out of the 15th spot on the leaderboard, the cut for advancing to the fourth round. The top eight teams after Monday’s fourth round advance to the match play stage.
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Fortunately for the Ducks, since 2018, teams have been allowed to carry a sixth player to NCAA Regionals and Nationals who is allowed to substitute for an injured teammate. Oregon’s sixth man this week is Gabriel Hari and he will go off in Solhaug’s place Sunday afternoon as the Ducks try to extend their season.
As a substitute, Hari’s score only counts for the team championship and he is not eligible for the NCAA Individual title.
Illinois was leading the event at the mid-way point of stroke play as the only team under par for the week at two under.