Jonson’s 68 has UNLV on the rise at NCAA golf championship

Whatever the NCAA medical staff did for Carl Jonson’s neck worked better than anyone could have expected.

The UNLV senior rebounded from a first-round 83 with a 4-under-par 68 on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA men’s golf championship at Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla.

Jonson, who has a bulging disk in his neck, led a comeback for the Rebels, who moved from 25th to 18th place after a round of 6-over 294, putting them at 20-over 596.

Southern California leads at 2-under 574, three shots ahead of Illinois.

“It was a huge round for us,” UNLV coach Dwaine Knight said. “The guys really played hard. And Carl played some unbelievable golf.”

Jonson wasn’t sure he would be able to play Saturday. But after receiving treatment from NCAA trainers, including massage therapy and a session with a chiropractor, he played terrific golf.

Starting on the back nine, he reeled off birdies on holes 15, 16 and 17 and made the turn at 3 under. He improved to 4 under with a birdie at the par-4 No. 1.

Even though he played the remaining eight holes at par, Jonson put the Rebels in better position to advance to Monday’s final round of stroke play. The top 15 teams in the 30-team field will advance after today’s third round.

“He was tremendous,” Knight said. “He didn’t seem to be having any problems with his neck, and we’re hoping he’ll be able to go (today).”

At one point, the Rebels were 2 under for the day and tied for ninth, but freshman Shintaro Ban took a 7 on the par-4 No. 5 to put them over par for the round.

“We had a chance to post a big round, but we couldn’t finish as strong as we would have liked,” Knight said.

Senior Kurt Kitayama did his part, shooting par 72. He went from 2 over through six holes to even through 10 and avoided mistakes the rest of the way.

The other three players couldn’t contribute. Ban and Nicholas Maruri each shot 77, and freshman John Oda carded a 79 that did not count in the team total.

Still, Knight said he likes where his team is as it relates to the big picture.

“We have a chance,” Knight said of cracking the top 15. “It’s very much a position golf course. We know where we need to hit it. We have to not overthink things and just go out and play.”

San Diego State, the Mountain West tournament champion, is tied for eighth at 13-over 589.

Bryson Dechambeau of Southern Methodist is the individual leader at 7-under 137, two strokes ahead of Thomas Detry of Illinois. Kitayama is tied with seven others for 22nd at 145.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.