Feb. 28, 2015
Round One Results in PDF Format | Live Results
TUCSON, Ariz. - San Diego State's Xander Schauffele fired a 2-under-par 70 on Saturday to lead the Aztec men's golf team during the opening round of the 2015 National Invitational Tournament at OMNI Tucson National Golf Club. With his total, the SDSU senior finds himself in a seven-way tie for third heading into Sunday's second round.
As a team, the Aztecs occupy the ninth spot in the field of 15 schools after posting a collective 10-over 298 on the par-72, 7,200-yard Catalina Course.
New Mexico State (-5) grabbed a one-stroke lead over Santa Clara (-4) after 18 holes, while UTEP (-1) sits in third, followed by TCU (+1), defending champion California (+4) and host Arizona (+4).
Schauffele was a model of consistency on Saturday, topping the field with 16 pars while draining consecutive birdies on holes 2 and 3 to complete his seventh straight round below par this spring. With his effort, the Scripps Ranch High alumnus remains just two shots in back of New Mexico State's Luis Medina, who carded a 68 to finish the day atop the individual leaderboard, while Jere Pelletier of UTEP finds himself one stroke behind in the second spot.
Sophomore Nahum Mendoza III (San Diego, Calif.) was the only other SDSU player to crack the top 25 during the opening round, landing in a tie for 24th after logging a 73. Despite sinking a team-high four birdies on the day, the Francis Parker High product was unable to overcome three bogeys, as well as a double-bogey on the par-4, 430-yard No. 11.
Meanwhile, junior Ryann Ree (Redondo Beach, Calif.) fired a 77 to finish the day in a tie for 59th followed by fellow classmate Michael Koeneke (San Diego, Calif.), who sits one stroke behind in 69th, and freshman PJ Samiere (Kailua, Hawaii), who finds himself tied for the 78th position after settling for an opening-round 81.
The National Invitational Tournament continues on Sunday, with the Aztecs scheduled to tee off alongside New Mexico and San Diego, beginning at 8 a.m. MT on hole No. 1.
National Invitational TournamentDay One ResultsOMNI Tucson National G.C.Catalina CourseTucson, Ariz.Par 72, 7,200 yards
Team Scores (Top 6 of 15 teams + SDSU)1. New Mexico State 283 (-5)2. Santa Clara 284 (-4)3. UTEP 287 (-1)4. TCU 289 (+1)T5. Arizona 292 (+4)T5. California 292 (+4)---9. San Diego State 298 (+10)
Individual Leaders (Top 9 of 83 players + SDSU)1. Luis Medina, New Mexico State 68 (-4)2. Jere Pelletier, UTEP 69 (-3)T3. Xander Schauffele, SDSU 70 (-2)T3. Pat Beyhan, New Mexico State 70 (-2)T3. Scott Fernandez, Iowa State 70 (-2)T3. Tyler Kerston, Santa Clara 70 (-2)T3. Alex McMahon, Arizona 70 (-2)T3. Brett Walker, New Mexico State 70 (-2)T3. Patrick Winther, Colorado State 70 (-2)---T24. Nahum Mendoza III, SDSU 73 (+1)T59. Ryann Ree, SDSU 77 (+5)T69. Michael Koeneke, SDSU 78 (+6)T78. PJ Samiere, SDSU 81 (+9)