Feb. 24, 2014
SOMIS, Calif. - San Diego State's Riccardo Michelini (Carpi, Italy) is tied for the top spot on the individual leaderboard after firing a combined 1-under par 143 Monday during the first two rounds of the inaugural Jones Invitational at the 6,985-yard, par-72 Saticoy Country Club. As a team, the Aztecs find themselves in second place with a collective 13-over 589, four strokes in back of front-runner USC (+9).
Michelini carded a 70 in the morning session despite three bogeys over a four-hole stretch, sinking five birdies for the round, including his finishing hole, the par-5 No. 6. The SDSU sophomore followed with a 73 in the afternoon, draining two additional birdies to remain tied with USC's Anthony Paolucci heading into Tuesday's final round.
In addition, junior Xander Schauffele (San Diego, Calif.) sits two shots in back of the leaders at 1-over 145 after posting rounds of 73 and 72. The Scripps Ranch High alumnus registered five birdies on the day, including three in the second round to finish in a tie for the third position with Frederick Wedel of host Pepperdine.
Meanwhile, freshman Ricky DeSantis (Carlsbad, Calif.) wound up in a five-way logjam for 11th after shooting a combined 5-over 149. Despite four birdies, the Carlsbad High product struggled with consistency in the morning, recording six bogeys and a double-bogey en route to a 76. DeSantis regrouped with a 73 in the afternoon, posting just one bogey before sinking birdies at Nos. 16 and 18. However, his climb up the ladder was thwarted by a double-bogey on his final hole, the par-4 No. 5.
Elsewhere, Austin Kaiser (Atascadero, Calif.) remains three shots behind DeSantis in a tie for 23rd at 8-over 152, along with SDSU teammate James Holley (Chatsworth, Calif.), who entered the tournament as an individual competitor.
Kaiser ended the first round on a positive note with a birdie at No. 6, but four bogeys proved too much to overcome as he settled for 75. Despite two additional birdies, the Aztec senior was unable to generate momentum in round two, stumbling to a 77 after experiencing difficulty with five bogeys and a double-bogey on the par-5 18th.
Holley, meanwhile, managed to shave four strokes off his opening-round 78, offsetting four bogeys in the afternoon with a pair of birdies en route to a 74. The SDSU senior made three birdies in the morning as well, but seven bogeys and a double-bogey blemished his round.
Rounding out the SDSU starting five was freshman Nahum Mendoza III (San Diego, Calif.), who end the day in a tie for 53rd at 16-over 160 after carding a 78 and 82.
Following USC and the Aztecs, the University of San Diego (+16) remains third in the team standings, while Cal State Fullerton (+24) and Brigham Young (+24) are tied for the fourth spot.
SDSU will wrap up competition at the Jones Invitational on Tuesday, teeing off with USD and USC on hole No. 1, beginning at 8:34 a.m. PT.
Jones InvitationalSaticoy C.C.Somis, Calif.Par 72, 6,985 yardsRound Two Results
Team Results (Top 5 of 12 schools)1. USC 292-293--585 (+9)2. San Diego State 294-295--589 (+13)3. San Diego 297-295--592 (+16)T4. Cal State Fullerton 300-300--600 (+24)T4. Brigham Young 303-297--600 (+24)
Individual Results (Top 5 of 66 players + SDSU)T1. Riccardo Michelini, SDSU 70-73--143 (-1)T1. Anthony Paolucci, USC 70-73--143 (-1)T3. Xander Schauffele, SDSU 73-72--145 (+1)T3. Frederick Wedel, Pepperdine 71-74--145 (+1)5. Jordan Rogers, Brigham Young 73-73--146 (+2)----T11. Ricky DeSantis, SDSU 76-73--140 (+5)T23. Austin Kaiser, SDSU 75-77--152 (+8)T23. James Holley, SDSU* 78-74--152 (+8)T53. Nahum Mendoza III, SDSU 78-82--160 (+16)
*-competing as an individual