Oct. 13, 2014
Day One Results in PDF Format | Live Results
FAIRFAX, Calif. - San Diego State's Riccardo Michelini (Carpi, Italy) fired a combined 6-under par 136 on Monday to lead the Aztec men's golf team during the first two rounds of the Alister MacKenzie Invitational at The Meadow Club. With his performance, the SDSU junior finds himself in tie for fifth place on the individual leaderboard heading into Tuesday's final round.
As a team, the Aztecs posted a collective 11-under 557 on rounds of 273-284 to finish the day in the fourth spot on the par-71, 6,734-yard course layout. Through 36 holes, SDSU trails first-place Arizona State (-19) by eight strokes, while host California (-17) occupies the runner-up position, followed closely by Oregon State (-16).
Michelini turned in his two lowest scores of the season with back-to-back cards of 68, draining nine birdies on the day compared to just three bogeys. The native Italian completed the opening round in a tie for 14th before climbing nine places in the afternoon. As a result, Michelini remains within striking distance, just three shots in back of leader Yannik Paul of Colorado (-9), while Arizona State's Max Rotluff (-8), Sebastian Crompton of California (-8), Oregon State's Tyler Collier (-7) and Nicholas Noyas of UC Davis (-6) are also poised for a final-round charge.
Michelini was not the only Aztec to find success on Monday as PJ Samiere (Kailua, Hawaii) landed in a tie for 12th after recording a 3-under 139 over the first 36 holes. The SDSU freshman opened with a season-low 69 before logging a 70 in the afternoon session. In all, Samiere offset four bogeys with seven birdies, including identical conversions on holes 1 and 13 in both rounds.
In addition, Brian Song (Beverly Hills, Calif.) had his putter working in his first varsity start for the Scarlet and Black, sinking a team-high 10 birdies before finishing the day in a tie for 30th with an even-par 142. Following a collegiate-best 69 in the morning session, the Aztec sophomore got off to a rocky start in the second round with six bogeys on the front nine. However, Song closed with a rush, notching five pars and four birdies after the turn en route to a 73.
Also making his first start in an SDSU uniform was Michael Koeneke (San Diego, Calif.), who finds himself in a tie for the 42nd spot at 2-over 144. The Aztec junior made eagle on the par-5, 543-yard No. 13 to highlight his morning total of 71 before settling for a 73 in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, the second round was not kind to Xander Schauffele (San Diego, Calif.), who tumbled out of the seventh position into a tie for 49th at 3-over 145 after logging an uncharacteristic 78. The SDSU senior cruised through the morning session with five birdies against one bogey, ultimately tying his season-low with a 67. The Scripps Ranch High alumnus carried the momentum into the afternoon, notching an eagle on the par-5, 492-yard No. 1. However, double-bogeys at No. 6 and No. 12 proved costly.
The final 18 holes of the Alister MacKenzie Invitational will be contested on Tuesday, with the Aztecs slated to tee off alongside Arizona State, California and Oregon State in a shotgun start, beginning at 8:15 a.m. PT.
Alister MacKenzie InvitationalDay One ResultsThe Meadow ClubFairfax, Calif.Par 71, 6,734 yards
Team Scores (Top 5 of 16 teams)1. Arizona State 271-278--549 (-19)2. California 279-272--551 (-17)3. Oregon State 274-278--552 (-16)4. San Diego State 273-284--557 (-11)5. UC Davis 275-283--558 (-10)
Individual Leaders (Top 6 of 80 players + SDSU)1. Yannik Paul, Colorado 66-67--133 (-9)T2. Max Rotluff, Arizona State 68-66--134 (-8)T2. Sebastian Crampton, California 68-66--134 (-8)4. Tyler Collier, Oregon State 69-66--135 (-7)T5. Riccardo Michelini, SDSU 68-68--136 (-6)T5. Nicholas Noya, UC Davis 68-68--136 (-6)----T12. PJ Samiere, SDSU 69-70--139 (-3)T30. Brian Song, SDSU 69-73--142 (E)T42. Michael Koeneke, SDSU 71-73--144 (+2)T49. Xander Schauffele, SDSU 67-78--145 (+3)