May 16, 2016
Round One PDF Results | Live Results
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The 22nd-ranked San Diego State men's golf team sits in sixth place at the 2016 NCAA Albuquerque Regional after carding a collective 5-over-par 293 on Monday during the opening round at UNM South Championship Course.
Just 11 strokes separate the top nine schools, with Arizona State grabbing the first-round lead after firing a combined 2-under 286, followed by South Florida (+1), Texas Tech (+3), USC (+3) and TCU (+4). Host New Mexico (+6) lurks in seventh one shot behind the Aztecs, while Texas A&M (+8) and Liberty (+9) remain in contention as well on the par-72, 7,555-yard track.
Following the completion of Wednesday's final round, the top five schools earn a spot in the NCAA championship series, scheduled for May 27-June 1 in Eugene, Ore.
Individually, SDSU was paced by senior Ryann Ree (Redondo Beach, Calif.), who ended the day in a tie for 10th out of 74 golfers after posting an even-par 72. Starting from the 10th tee, the two-time all-Mountain West performer drained a team-high five birdies, including back-to-back conversions on the second and third greens. However, four bogeys after the turn prevented a loftier perch.
Despite the hiccup, Ree remains three strokes in back of front-runners Jon Rahm of Arizona State and South Florida's Rigel Fernandes, who each shot a 3-under 69, while Sean Crocker of USC (-2) and TCU's Ryan Books (-2) are tied for third, followed by a five-way logjam for fifth on a crowded leaderboard.
In addition, Gunn Yang (Pyeongchang, South Korea) finds himself one shot behind Ree in a tie for 16th after logging a 73. The Aztec sophomore opened with a bogey at No. 10, before settling down with nine pars and two birdies over his next 11 holes, including an impressive make at the par-4, 508-yard No. 13, which ranked as the fifth-toughest green on Monday. However, two bogeys down the stretch thwarted his advance.
Elsewhere, senior Riccardo Michelini (Carpi, Italy) and sophomore PJ Samiere (Kailua, Hawaii) occupy the 24th position after each carded a 74. Despite logging just one birdie on the par-4, 402-yard No. 12, Michelini managed to ease the sting of three bogeys with a team-high 14 pars, including his final seven holes.
Meanwhile, Samiere experienced a dearth of birdies on his scorecard, but still completed his round on a positive note with an eagle on the par-4, 606-yard ninth, sinking a six-foot putt after hitting his second shot off the deck with a driver from 300 yards away.
Rounding out the Aztec contingent was junior Nahum Mendoza III (San Diego, Calif.), who landed in a tie for 34th after shooting an opening-round 75. The reigning Mountain West Player of the Year got off to a shaky start with five bogeys on the front, including three straight on holes 16-18, but cleaned things up on after the turn with six pars and two birdies.
The NCAA Albuquerque Regional continues on Tuesday when San Diego State tees off alongside USC and TCU for the second round, beginning at 8:20 a.m. MT/7:20 a.m. PT on hole No. 1.
NCAA Albuquerque Regional
Round One Results
UNM South Championship Course
Albuquerque, N.M.
Par 72, 7,555 yards
Team Scores (14 schools)
1. Arizona State ... 286 (-2)
2. South Florida ... 289 (+1)
T3. Texas Tech ... 291 (+3)
T3. USC ... 291 (+3)
5. TCU ... 292 (+4)
6. San Diego State ... 293 (+5)
7. New Mexico ... 294 (+6)
8. Texas A&M ... 296 (+8)
9. Liberty ... 297 (+9)
10. Iowa ... 302 (+14)
11. Army ... 303 (+15)
12. NC State ... 305 (+17)
13. Cleveland State ... 312 (+24)
14. Wagner ... 316 (+28)
Individual Leaders (Top 9 of 74 players + SDSU)
T1. Jon Rahm, Arizona State ... 69 (-4)
T1. Rigel Fernandes, South Florida ... 69 (-4)
T3. Sean Crocker, USC ... 70 (-2)
T3. Ryan Books, TCU ... 70 (-2)
T5. Max Rottluff, Arizona State ... 71 (-1)
T5. Chandler Phillips, Texas A&M ... 71 (-1)
T5. Gabriel Lench, Liberty ... 71 (-1)
T5. Peter Kim, Army ... 71 (-1)
T5. Hayden Shieh, Santa Clara* ... 71 (-1)
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T10. Ryann Ree, SDSU ... 72 (E)
T16. Gunn Yang, SDSU ... 73 (+1)
T24. PJ Samiere, SDSU ... 74 (+2)
T24. Riccardo Michelini, SDSU ... 74 (+2)
T35. Nahum Mendoza III, SDSU ... 75 (+3)
* - competing as an individual