SDSU Completes First Day at Western Intercollegiate

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- The San Diego State men's golf team is in a tie for 11th place at 5-over-par 355 after Monday's first round of the Western Intercollegiate on the historic par-70, 6,514-yard Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, California.
 
The Aztecs, who are 27th in the latest GolfStat computer rankings, are tied for 11th with No. 32 Washington at +5, only ahead of No. 17 Arizona (+6) Hawai'i (+16). Only four teams are under par through the first round, including No. 50 California (-16), No. 22 Oregon (-15), No. 8 Stanford (-11) and No. 9 Pepperdine (-5). SDSU is one of eight teams separated by three strokes of fifth place, currently held by No. 23 Colorado State (+2) and No. 43 Brigham Young (+2).
 
Unlike the other team events, the Western Intercollegiate is a six-count-five event, meaning six players are in the starting lineup with five counted for scores. Usually collegiate tournaments consist of five players in the starting lineup with four counted for scores.
 
Only one San Diego State golfer is under par as senior Youssef Guezzale (San Diego/La Jolla HS) is tied for 18th at 1-under 69 out of 92 golfers. The day didn't start off well for Guezzale as he opened with a bogey on the par-4, 460-yard first hole and a triple bogey the par-3, 217-yard third. Guezzale, however, rebounded with a birdie on the par-4, 378-yard fourth, along with four more birdies and an eagle on the par-5, 527-yard 13th to offset a pair of bogeys and scrape out a 69. He played his final 15 holes at 5-under par.
 
Three other Aztecs, meanwhile, are tied for 40th at 1-over-71 in freshman Chanachon Chokprajakchat (Bangkok, Thailand), sophomore Justin Hastings (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands) and junior Skyler Ngo (Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman HS). Chokprajakchat, who was named the Mountain West Golfer and Freshman Golfer of the Week on Thursday for his play at the Wyoming Cowboy Classic (T-4th), sank four birdies on the day against three bogeys and a double bogey on the par-4, 437-yard second hole.
 
Hastings, meanwhile, started with six consecutive pars and then a bogey on the par-4, 346-yard seventh, followed by another par. Hastings then sank three birdies in a five-hole stretch to get to 2-under No. 13, finished his round with three bogeys over his final five holes to settle for a 71.
 
Competing in the starting lineup for the second straight event, Ngo had three birdies in today's first round and four bogeys. Ngo's 71 was his best round of the season.
 
Sophomore Shea Lague (Jamul, Calif./Steele Canyon HS) carded a 3-over 73 and is tied for 63rd. Lague, who is ranked as the 39th individual in the GolfStat rankings, opened with a birdie and closed with a birdie on the par-3, 173-yard 18th, but had only other on the day, offset by six bogeys.
 
Freshman Dylan Oyama (Carlsbad, Calif./Pacific Ridge HS) is tied for 75th at +5. Oyama logged three birdies, but triple bogeyed the par-3, 191-yard fifth and doubled the par-4, 391-yard 11th, and three bogeys to record a 75.
 
California's Aaron Du leads all golfers following a 63, one shot ahead of Stanford's Michael Thorbjornsen (-6) and Oregon's Gregory Solhaug (-6).
 
SDSU begins moving day at 11:46 a.m. PT Tuesday along with Colorado State. The second round from 4-7 p.m. PT will broadcast live on the Golf Channel.
 
Western Intercollegiate
Santa Cruz, Calif.
Day One Results (April 10, 2023)
Pasatiempo Golf Club
Par 70, 6,514 yards
 
Team Standings (Top 5 of 14 teams + SDSU)
1. No. 50 California…334 (-16)
2. No. 22 Oregon…335 (-15)
3. No. 8 Stanford…339 (-11)
4. No. 9 Pepperdine…345 (-5)
T5. No. 23 Colorado State…352 (+2)
T5. No. 43 Brigham Young…352 (+2)
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T11. No. 27 San Diego State…355 (+5)
 
Individual Leaders (Top 8) of 92 players + SDSU)
1. Aaron Du (California)…63 (-7)
T2. Michael Thorbjornsen (Stanford)…64 (-6)
T2. Gregory Solhaug (Oregon)…64 (-6)
4. Owen Avrit (Oregon)…65 (-5)
T5. Sam Choi (Pepperdine)…66 (-4)
T5. Filip Jakubcik (Arizona)…66 (-4)
T5. Sampson Zheng (California)…66 (-4)
T5. Keanu Akina (Brigham Young)…66 (-4)
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T18. Youssef Guezzale (San Diego State)…69 (-1)
T40. Chanachon Chokprajakchat (San Diego State)…71 (+1)
T40. Justin Hastings (San Diego State)…71 (+1)
T40. Skyler Ngo (San Diego State)…71 (+1)
T63. Shea Lague (San Diego State)…73 (+3)
T75. Dylan Oyama (San Diego State)… 75 (+5)