Feb. 26, 2018
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- The San Diego State men's golf team remains in fifth place at the Southwestern Invitational after play was suspended midway through the second round on Monday due to darkness.
The Aztecs, who sit at 17-over par through holes 11-13, endured a two-hour delay for frost earlier in the morning at the par-72, 6,994-yard layout at North Ranch Country Club.
San Diego State finished the opening round in third place after posting a collective 5-over 293, but slid two spots into fifth behind UCLA (+3), tournament host Pepperdine (+7), Tennessee (+14) and Washington State (+16), respectively, after twilight descended on the San Fernando Valley. Play is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, starting at 8 a.m. PT, with continuous action into the final round.
All five Aztec starters completed at least 11 holes in round two, including PJ Samiere (Kailua, Hawaii), who is tied for sixth at even-par, five shots in back of Tennessee's front-runner Lorenzo Scalise (-5), while Pepperdine's Clay Feagler, Michigan's Kyle Mueller and UCLA's Eddy Lai are tied for second at 1-under, along with Anthony Cecere, an unattached golfer from Pepperdine as well.
Samiere opened with a 72 in the first round, offsetting five bogeys with five birdies, including three straight conversions on holes 4-6. The Aztec senior also added two drains in the afternoon, including a make on his final hole before dusk fell at the par-5, 526-yard No. 12.
In addition, Blake Abercrombie (Rocklin, Calif.) finds himself in a logjam with five other golfers who are tied for 21st at 4-over. The SDSU senior equaled his fellow classmate with a 72 in a morning session that featured four birdies, including an impressive conversion on the par-4, 418-yard No. 14, which ranked as the fifth-toughest hole of the opening round. However, Abercrombie has found birdies elusive in round two thus far, suffering two bogeys as well as a double on the par-4 fifth.
In addition, freshman Steve Sugimoto (San Diego, Calif.) remains tied for 27th at 5-over for the tournament. The Rancho Bernardo High alumnus has matched Samiere with five birdies through 30 holes, including three in the first round where he carded a 75.
Elsewhere, Christian Banke (Danville, Calif.) sank five birdies of his own on Monday, including four in the morning en route to a 74. One of his successes was recorded at the par-4, 415-yard No. 2, which ranked as the sixth-most difficult green of the first round. However, the Aztec freshman has been unable to match that feat in round two, suffering six bogeys and a double so far.
Rounding out the SDSU lineup is junior Otto Vanhatalo (Espoo, Finland), who is tied for 64th at 12-over. The Torrey Pines High product was just 1-over in round one after making birdie on the par-5, 474-yard 15th, but experienced three bogeys and double over his final five holes to finish with a sluggish 78.
Southwestern Invitational
Round Two Suspended Due to Darkness
Westlake Village, Calif.
North Ranch C.C.
Par 72, 6,994 yards
Team Standings (Top 5 of 15 teams + SDSU)
1. UCLA...(+3) through holes 10-12
2. Pepperdine...(+7) through holes 11-13
3. Tennessee...(+14) through holes 8-10
4. Washington State...(+16) through holes 8-11
5. San Diego State...(+17) through holes 11-13
Individual Leaders (Top 5 of 78 players + SDSU)
1. Lorenzo Scalise, Tennessee...(-5) through hole 9
T2. Clay Feagler, Pepperdine...(-1) through hole 12
T2. Kyle Mueller, Michigan...(-1) through hole 11
T2. Eddy Lai, UCLA...(-1) through hole 11
T2. Anthony Cecere, Pepperdine*...(-1) through hole 11
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T6. PJ Samiere, SDSU...(E) through hole 12
T21. Blake Abercrombie, SDSU...(+4) through hole 11
T27. Steve Sugimoto, SDSU...(+5) through hole 12
T49. Christian Banke, SDSU...(+9) through hole 12
T64. Otto Vanhatalo, SDSU...(+12) through hole 13
* - Competing as an individual