No. 21 SDSU Takes Fifth at John Burns Intercollegiate

LIHUE, Kaua'i, Hawaii -- The 21st-ranked San Diego State men's golf team fired a 19-under-par 269 to vault up seven places into fifth on the final day of the John Burns Intercollegiate Friday on the par-72, 6,905-yard Ocean Course Hokuala.
 
The Aztecs, who entered the tournament ranked 21st in the latest Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches Poll, while the computer rankings have them 20th (GolfStat) and 21st (Golfweek/Sagarin), finished at 24-under 840 overall for the tournament, which was completed in two days instead of the planned three because of rain in the area. Brigham Young set a tournament record with a 54-under 810, 18 shots clear of runner-up Arizona (-36). Also head of SDSU were Texas A&M (-32) and California (-27).
 
It was an incredible second half of the tournament for San Diego State, which was in last for much of Thursday's first round. The Aztecs salvaged a 4-over 292 in the first round for 16th, before finishing their second round at 9-under 279 today to move into 12th. SDSU then vaulted seven places up the leaderboard with the 19-under 269 in today's final round.
 
Sophomore Shea Lague (Jamul, Calif./Steele Canyon HS) finished in a tie for ninth out of the 126 golfers at 11-under 205, thanks to an 8-under 64 in today's final round. The 64, which featured eight birdies, including four over his final five holes, and no bogeys, tied his collegiate low and is tied for the eighth-lowest round in program history. He catapulted 17 spots on the final day to just get into the top 10 at solo ninth.
 
Classmate Justin Hastings (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands), meanwhile, finished with consecutive 5-under 67s to close out his round in a tie for 14th at 9-under 207. Hastings eagled his opening hole in the par-5, 500-yard sixth and added six birdies, including five of his final six holes. His lone blemish, however, was a triple bogey on the par-3, 210-yard 14th.
 
Freshman Chanachon Chokprajakchat (Bangkok, Thailand) tied for 45th at 2-under 214, improving each round, shooting 75, 70 and 69. Chokprajakchat's 69 came with four birdies and one bogey as he moved up 18 places over the final round.
 
Freshman Dylan Oyama (Carlsbad, Calif./Pacific Ridge HS) was a shot back of Chokprajakchat in a tie for 58th at 1-under 215. Like Chokprajakchat, Oyama improved each round, following up his 74 and 71 with a 2-under 70 today. Oyama eagled the par-5, 510-yard fourth and sank three birdies, but also had a bogey on the par-3, 169-yard eighth and a double bogey on the par-4, 435-yard 18th.
 
Senior Youssef Guezzale (San Diego/La Jolla HS) was nine shots better today than his first round 78 at 3-under 69 today with an even-par 72 sandwiched in between. Starting on the par-5, 560-yard 10th, Guezzale opened with three consecutive birdies and had five for the round, which were offset by a pair of bogeys.
 
Texas A&M's Sam Bennett and California's Sampson Zheng shared medalist honors at 18-under 298.
 
San Diego State next plays in the Southern Highlands Collegiate, Feb. 26-28, at Southern Highlands G.C. in Las Vegas.
 
John Burns Intercollegiate
Lihue, Kaua'i, Hawaii
Day Two Results
Ocean Course at Hokuala
Par 72, 6,905 yards
 
Team Standings (Top 5 of 21 teams) (GolfStat rankings)
1. Brigham Young…273-271-266—810 (-54)
2. No. 19 Arizona…278-276-274—828 (-36)
3. No. 9 Texas A&M…286-279-267—832 (-32)
4. California…277-288-272---837 (-27)
5. No. 20 San Diego State…292-279-269—840 (-24)
 
Individual Leaders (Top 5 of 126 players + SDSU) (Note that second round was not completed)
T1. Sam Bennett (Texas A&M)…70-67-61—198 (-18)
T1. Sampson Zheng (California)…65-68-65—198 (-18)
T3. Carson Lundell (Brigham Young)…70-63-66—199 (-17)
T3. Ian Gilligan (Long Beach State)…61-71-67—199 (-17)
5. Keanu Akina (Brigham Young)…66-67-69—202 (-14)
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9. Shea Lague (San Diego State)…70-71-64—205 (-11)
T14. Justin Hastings (San Diego State)…73-67-67—207 (-9)
T45. Chanachon Chokprajakchat (San Diego State)…75-70-69—214 (-2)
T58. Dylan Oyama (San Diego State)…74-71-70—215 (-1)
T84. Youssef Guezzale (San Diego State)…78-72-69—219 (+3)