Men's Golf

Men's Golf Climbs to Fourth at The Prestige

Men's Golf Climbs to Fourth at The PrestigeMen's Golf Climbs to Fourth at The Prestige

Feb. 16, 2016

Round Two PDF Results | Live Results

LA QUINTA, Calif. -- The San Diego State men's golf team climbed into fourth place after firing a combined 9-under-par 275 on Tuesday during the second round of The Prestige at PGA WEST. The Aztecs registered the second-lowest team score of the afternoon, vaulting five spots in the standings with a 36-hole total of 1-over 569 heading into Wednesday's final round on the par-71, 7,046-yard Greg Norman Course.

After a slow start, all five SDSU starters displayed upward mobility on the individual leaderboard, including Ryann Ree (Redondo Beach, Calif.), who finds himself in a three-way tie for first after shooting a 5-under 66. The Aztec senior matched his second-lowest score as a collegian, draining a team-high six birdies, including four in a five-hole stretch from Nos. 8-12. Ree, who posted just one blemish on his scorecard, a bogey on the par-4 third, also recorded 11 pars on the day to grab a share of the lead at 8-under 134 along with Pepperdine's Frederick Wedel and Zach Wright of LSU.

Likewise, Nahum Mendoza III (San Diego, Calif.) was a model of consistency on Tuesday, notching five birdies and 12 pars en route to a season-best 68. The SDSU junior also experienced one lone hiccup during the second round, a double-bogey on the par-4 No. 2, before catching fire at the turn with four straight birdies on holes 9-12. Shortly thereafter, the Frances Parker High product tallied another conversion on the par-5, 537-yard 16th to help facilitate a leap of 12 places into a tie for 12th at 1-under 141.

In addition, Riccardo Michelini (Carpi, Italy) sits three shots in back of Mendoza in a tie for 25th at 2-over 144 after firing a 70. The Aztec senior jumped seven places in the standings after draining five birdies of his own, including back-to-back makes on holes 16-17, which put him at 3-under for the day. However, a costly double-bogey on the par-4, 461-yard 18th prevented a steeper climb up the ladder.

Elsewhere, Gunn Yang (Pyeongchang, South Korea) made the biggest move of the afternoon for the Scarlet and Black, catapulting 20 places into a tie for 51st at 8-over 150 after logging a 71. The SDSU sophomore was 3-over for the round following a difficult stretch of four bogeys and one birdie on Nos. 6-10. Much like his teammates, however, Yang got hotter as the day progressed, notching five pars and three birdies over his final eight holes, including a successful conversion on the par-3, 180-yard 17th.

The Aztecs were also represented by senior Michael Koeneke (San Diego, Calif.), who shaved three strokes off his total from the previous day with a 76. The Torrey Pines High alumnus, who sits in the 70th position at 13-over 155, was just 1-over for the round after carding a birdie on the par-5, 617-yard No. 8. However, a double-bogey on the ensuing green, followed by a pair of bogeys on the back nine, derailed his momentum.

In the team standings, SDSU remains just two strokes in back of tournament co-host Stanford (-1). Arizona State (-12) set the course ablaze with a collective 15-under 269 on Tuesday to forge a five-shot lead over LSU (-7) with 18 holes remaining.

The Prestige at PGA WEST concludes on Wednesday when the Aztecs tee off alongside Duke and Pepperdine for the final round, beginning at 8:20 a.m. PT on hole No. 1.

The Prestige at PGA WEST
Round Two Results
Greg Norman Course
La Quinta, Calif.
Par 71, 7,046 yards

Team Scores (Top 5 of 15 schools)
1. Arizona State ... 287-269--556 (-12)
2. LSU ... 277-284--561 (-7)
3. Stanford ... 282-285--567 (-1)
4. San Diego State ... 294-275--569 (+1)
5. Duke ... 288-282--570 (+3)

Individual Leaders (Top 5 of 81 players + SDSU)
T1. Ryann Ree, SDSU ... 68-66--134 (-8)
T1. Frederick Wedel, Pepperdine ... 66-68--134 (-8)
T1. Zach Wright, LSU ... 68-66--134 (-8)
T4. Jon Rahm, Arizona State ... 70-66--136 (-6)
T4. Jared du Toit, Arizona State ... 68-68--136 (-6)
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T12. Nahum Mendoza III, SDSU ... 73-66--139 (-3)
T25. Riccardo Michelini, SDSU ... 74-70--144 (+2)
T51. Gunn Yang, SDSU ... 79-71--150 (+8)
T70. Michael Koeneke, SDSU ... 79-76--155 (+13)