M. Golf in Fourth after Round One at MW Championship

TUCSON, Ariz. –  The San Diego State men's golf team remains in fourth place at the Mountain West Championship after firing a collective 7-under-par 281 during the opening round Friday at OMNI Tucson National Golf Club.

With their results, the Aztecs find themselves just two shots behind co-leaders Colorado State (-9) and New Mexico (-9), while Boise State (-8) sits in third heading into Saturday's second round on the par-72, 7,194-yard Catalina Course.

Individually, SDSU was paced by Puwit Anupansuebsai (Nakhon Phanom, Thailand) and Christian Banke (Danville, Calif.), who each carded a 68 to finish the day in a tie for third on the leaderboard with UNLV's Harry Hall and Utah State's Chase Lansford.

Anupansuebsai led the field with eight birdies, including six on the front nine alone, highlighted by an impressive drain on the par-3 247-yard No. 7, which ranked as the second-toughest hole of round one.  The Aztec sophomore also had successful conversions on the ninth and 10th greens; however, a bogey at No. 15, followed by a double bogey on the par-4 18th prevented a loftier perch.

Banke, meanwhile, recorded just one blemish on his scorecard, countering a bogey on the par-3 third with five birdies to tie his season-low round. The SDSU sophomore notched his final drain of the day on the course's longest hole at the par-5, 610-yard No. 15 before closing with three straight pars.

With their totals, Anupansuebsai and Banke remain just one stroke behind co-leaders Sean Carlon of New Mexico and Fresno State's Alex Lee, who each logged a 67 on Friday.

In addition, Aztec senior Otto Vanhatalo (Espoo, Finland) completed the first round in a tie for 29th after firing a 72. The Torrey Pines High alumnus recorded back-to-back bogeys on the third and fourth greens before enjoying a stretch of spot-free golf over the next 13 holes, highlighted by birdies at No. 8, No. 10 and No. 17. However, his momentum was derailed by a bogey at the 18th, costing him nine places in the standings.

Elsewhere, Leo Oyo (Tokyo, Japan) sits one shot behind in a tie for 34th after shooting a 73. The SDSU freshman notched five birdies on the day, including a successful make on the par-5, 587-yard No. 8. However, double bogeys at the par-3 seventh and the par-5 15th proved a little too much to overcome.

Rounding out the Aztec starting five was sophomore Steve Sugimoto (San Diego, Calif.), who logged an opening-round 74 to finish the day in a tie for 42nd. The Rancho Bernardo High product led the squad with 13 pars to go with birdies at the par-5 second and the par-5 10th, but it wasn't enough to ease the sting of two front-nine bogeys and a double bogey at the 18th.

San Diego State will tee off with UNLV for second-round action at the MW Championship on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. MST/PDT.
 
2019 MW Championship
Tucson, Ariz.
Round One Results
OMNI Tucson National G.C.
Catalina Course
Par 72, 7,194 yards
 
Team Standings (11 schools)
T1. New Mexico...279 (-9)
T1. Colorado State...279 (-9)
3. Boise State...280 (-8)
4. San Diego State...281 (-7)
T5. Fresno State...282 (-6)
T5. UNLV...282 (-6)
7. Nevada...283 (-5)
8. Wyoming...284 (-4)
9. Utah State...288 (E)
10. San José State...290 (+2)
11. Air Force...294 (+6)
 
Individual Leaders (Top 6 of 55 players + SDSU)       
T1. Sean Carlon, New Mexico...67 (-5) 
T1. Alex Lee, Fresno State...67 (-5) 
T3. Puwit Anupansuebsai, SDSU...68 (-4)
T3. Christian Banke, SDSU...68 (-4)
T3. Harry Hall, UNLV...68 (-4) 
T3. Chase Lansford, Boise State...68 (-4) 
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T29. Otto Vanhatalo, SDSU...72 (E)
T34. Leo Oyo, SDSU...73 (+1)
T42. Steve Sugimoto, SDSU...74 (+2)