TUCSON, Ariz. -- The San Diego State men's golf team moved up three places on the leaderboard to finish fourth at the National Invitational Tournament Sunday on the par-72, 7,167-yard Omni Tucson National.
The Aztecs fired a final round 13-under-par 275 today to finish the 18-team field at 29-under 835. The 275 was the fourth-lowest round of the day for SDSU, which entered the tournament 41st in the latest Golfstat rankings. No. 8 Oklahoma State won the N.I.T. at 47-under 817 with No. 2 Oklahoma (-43), No. 6 Texas (-31), San Diego State (-29), No. 4 Illinois (-28) and host No. 17 Arizona (-28) rounding out the top 6.
Steve Sugimoto tied for ninth to lead the Aztecs at 10-under 206 following a final-round 4-under 68. The 206 was his lowest 54-hole score of his career. Sugimoto had seven birdies in today's round, including four on the back nine to move up three spots. Sugimoto was at 1-over through his first seven holes, but birdied the par-5, 587-yard eighth hole, and then the par-5, 511-yard 10th, par-4, 430-yard 11th, par-4, 404-yard 13th and the par-5, 610-yard 15th. Sugimoto, who played his final 11 holes without a bogey, played the par 4s at 6-under this weekend, tied for the fifth lowest among all competitors.
Zihao Jin, meanwhile, carded an 8-under 64 in today's final round, the lowest score of the tournament. He moved up 28 spots to finish in a tie for 14th at 8-under 208. Jin had a remarkable seven birdies through his first eight holes and made the turn at 7-under 29. He had three straight birdies to open his round (par-4, 395 yards; par-5, 535 yards and par-4, 375 yards) and then four consecutive on the par-4, 398-yard fifth, par-4, 425-yard sixth, par-3, 247-yard seventh and the eighth. Jin cooled off a bit on the back nine, but still birdied No. 15 and finished with a bogey-free final round.
Callum Bruce tied for 28th at 3-under 213 after an even-par final round. Bruce's wild round consisted of four birdies, four bogeys, an eagle on No. 10 and a double bogey on the 11th.
Puwit Anupansuebsai finished one shot behind Bruce in a tie for 30th at -2 following a 3-over 75 today. Anupansuebsai made the turn at 2-under 34 with birdies on No. 5, No. 6 and No. 8, but had three bogeys and a double bogey on the par-4, 443-yard 18th for a 41 back nine and 75 for the round.
Competing as an individual, Joey Moore continued his consistent play, finishing up his second round this morning at even-par 72 and matching the score in the final round. His three straight 72s gave him a tie for 44th. For the tournament, Moore had six birdies, six bogeys and 42 pars.
Youssef Guezzale fired a 1-under 71 today to finish in a tie for 61st at 2-over 218. Guezzale birdied the first two holes and also the 11th, offsetting a pair of bogeys.
Oklahoma's Garret Reband captured medalist honors at 15-under 201, a two-shot victory over Oklahoma State's Eugenio Chacarra (-13) and Texas' Pierceson Coody (-13).
San Diego State will next compete April 5-6 in Wyoming's Cowboy Classic at Whirlwind Golf Course in Chandler, Ariz.
National Invitational Tournament
Tucson, Ariz.
Day Two Results
Omni Tucson National
Par 72, 7,167 yards
Team Standings (Top 7 of 18 teams + SDSU) (rankings are Golfstat)
1. No. 8 Oklahoma State…275-272-270—817 (-47)
2. No. 2 Oklahoma…274-276-271—821 (-43)
3. No. 6 Texas…284-275-274—833 (-31)
4. No. 41 San Diego State…280-280-275—835 (-29)
T5. No. 4 Illinois…277-277-282—836 (-28)
T5. No. 17 Arizona…277-278-281—836 (-28)
Individual Leaders (Top 5 of 104 players + SDSU)
1. Garret Reband (Oklahoma)…67-68-66—201 (-15)
T2. Eugenio Chacarra (Oklahoma State)…69-68-66—203 (-13)
T2. Pierceson Coody (Texas)…68-69-66—203 (-13)
T4. Jonathan Brightwell (Oklahoma)…69-69-66—204 (-12)
T4. Sam Choi (New Mexico)…68-67-69—204 (-12)
T4. Brad Reeves (Arizona)…68-67-69—204 (-12)
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T9. Steve Sugimoto (San Diego State)…70-68-68—206 (-10)
T14. Zihao Jin (San Diego State)…69-75-64—208 (-8)
T28. Callum Bruce (San Diego State)…73-68-72—213 (-3)
T30. Puwit Anupansuebsai (San Diego State)…68-71-75—214 (-2)
T44. Joey Moore^ (San Diego State)…72-72-72—216 (E)
T61. Youssef Guezzale (San Diego State)…74-73-71—218 (+2)
^ competing as an individual
Men’s Golf Takes Fourth at Arizona’s N.I.T.
