SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The San Diego State men's golf team fired a 16-under 264 for its lowest team round in program history to vault into fourth place on the final day of the Maui Jim Intercollegiate Sunday on the par-70, 7,115-yard Mirabel Golf Club. The Aztecs finished at 30-under 810 for the tournament, one stroke behind Auburn (-31) for third place.
SDSU, which was sixth entering the final round, used a 6-under 64 by Youssef Guezzale (San Diego/La Jolla, Calif.) and a 5-under 65 by Shea Lague (Jamul, Calif./Steele Canyon HS), along with under-par rounds by Puwit Anupansuebsai (Nakhon Phanom, Thailand) (3-under 67) and Zihao Jin (Beijing/Ranch Bernardo HS) (2-under 68) to post the 16-under 264. It tied Auburn for the lowest round of the day and only trailed an 18-under 262 recorded by tournament champion Georgia Tech in yesterday's second round.
San Diego State's 54-hole score of 810 is the second lowest in program history, only trailing an 806 set at the 20210 Alister MacKenzie Invitational.
The Yellow Jackets won the 14-team tournament at 44-under 796, one shot clear of Clemson (-43). Auburn (-31), San Diego State (-30) and Louisville (-26) rounded out the top five.
Guezzale finished in a tie for 12th out of 90 competitors at 10-under 200, his lowest 54-hole score by seven strokes (previous best was 207 on Oct. 8-9, 2018 at the Alister MacKenzie Invitational) and tied for the seventh-lowest mark in program history. Additionally, Guezzale's 64 today was tied for the seventh-lowest 18-hole round in school history.
Guezzale was lights out from the start, opening with a birdie on the par-4, 405-yard first and an eagle on the par-5, 571-yard second. Guezzale brushed aside a bogey on the par-4, 439-yard third with consecutive birdies on the par-4, 472-yard fourth and the par-4, 307-yard fifth, and another on the par-4, 526-yard seventh to get to 5-under through seven holes. Following a bogey on the par-4, 456-yard ninth, he birdied the par-4, 466-yard 13th and traded that with a bogey on the par-4, 433-yard 15th. Guezzale finished in style, however, with back-to-back birdies on the par-5, 561-yard 17th and the par-4, 474-yard 18th to sign for a 64, two strokes better than his previous collegiate low.
Lague, meanwhile, tied for 19th in his first tournament as a collegian, finishing at 6-under 204 thanks to a final round 65 today. Lague was at even par for round through 11 holes with two birdies (No. 2 and No. 5) offset by two bogeys. He then caught fire, birdieing the par-4, 390-yard 12th and each of the final four holes to card a 5-under 65.
Jin tied for 24th at 5-under 205 with a final round 68 today. Jin, who went 68-69-68, for the tournament, opened with a birdie on the first and then rattled off 15 consecutive pars. He then birdied the 17th and recorded a par on the 18th, becoming the only Aztec without a bogey or double bogey on Sunday.
Anupansuebsai tied for 31st overall at 4-under 206 thanks to a 3-under 67 today. Anupansuebsai birdied the second and had eight pars for a 1-under 34 on the front nine. Following a double bogey on the par-4, 449-yard 10th, he birdied four holes the rest of the way, including No. 12, No. 15, the par-4, 423-yard 16th and No. 18.
Sugimoto finished in a tie for 46th at 1-under 209 following a 1-over 71 on Sunday. Sugimoto rebounded from a 4-over 39 on the front nine after triple bogeying the first with a 3-under 32 on the back nine, birdieing the par-3, 178-yard 11th, the 12th and the 13th.
Competing as an individual, Jack Townsend (San Diego/Charter School of San Diego) took 89th at 16-over 226. Following an opening round 12-over 82, Townsend finished the weekend with an even-par 70 and a 4-over 74 today. Townsend got to 2-under for the day with back-to-back birdies on No. 4 and No. 5, but double bogeyed the seventh and had four bogeys over his final 11 holes for his 74.
SDSU next competes in the Husky Invitational, Sept. 20-21, in Bremerton, Washington. San Diego State will utilize its trip to Gold Mountain Golf Club as a preview for next spring's Mountain West Championship, which will be held on the same course.
Maui Jim Intercollegiate
Scottsdale, Ariz.
Final Results
Mirabel Golf Club
Par 70, 7,115 yards
Team Standings (Top 5 of 14 teams)
1. Georgia Tech…264-262-270—796 (-44)
2. Clemson…266-264-267—797 (-43)
3. Auburn…271-274-264—809 (-31)
4. San Diego State…274-272-264—810 (-30)
5. Louisville…273-272-269—814 (-26)
Individual Leaders (Top 5 of 90 players + SDSU)
1. J.M. Butler (Auburn)…66-64-63—193 (-17)
2. Christo Lamprecht (Georgia Tech)…65-63-66—194 (-16)
T3. RJ Manke (Washington)…70-62-63—195 (-15)
T3. ^David Puig (Arizona State)…63-66-66—195 (-15)
5. Kyle Cottam (Clemson)…65-64-67—196 (-14)
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T12. Youssef Guezzale (San Diego State)…69-67-64—200 (-10)
T19. Shea Lague (San Diego State)…69-70-65—204 (-6)
T24. Zihao Jin (San Diego State)…68-69-68—205 (-5)
T31. Puwit Anupansuebsai (San Diego State)…68-71-67—206 (-4)
T46. Steve Sugimoto (San Diego State)…72-66-71—209 (-1)
89. ^Jack Townsend (San Diego State)…82-70-74—226 (+16)
^ competing as individual