Men’s Golf Vaults into Lead at NCAA K. S. Regional

KINGSTON SPRINGS, Tenn. -- The 26th-ranked San Diego State men's golf team fired an 8-under 276 for the lowest round Tuesday to move into first place after two days of the NCAA Kingston Springs Regional. The Aztecs, who were in fifth place following Monday's 3-under 281, are at 11-under 557 on the par-71, 7,107-yard Golf Club of Tennessee.
 
SDSU leads No. 13 and regional host Vanderbilt (-9) by two strokes, while No. 24 Arkansas (-5), No. 10 North Carolina State (-3), No. 3 Clemson (-2), No. 42 Charlotte (-2) and No. 46 Kent State (-1) are also under par after 36 holes. The top-five teams and lowest individual not on those teams from each regional will advance to the NCAA Championships, slated for May 28-June 2, at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
 
San Diego State totaled 19 birdies in today's second round and rank second in the field with 39 birdies for the tournament. The Aztecs are also tied for first in par-4 scoring (4.00), tied for third in par-5 scoring (4.73) and fourth in par-3 scoring (3.06), while tying for the second-most pars (113).
 
Individually, Youssef Guezzale is tied for the 36-hole lead with Vanderbilt's Reid Davenport at 5-under 137. Guezzale, who last week was one of five golfers to advance out of local qualifying for the 2021 U.S. Open by carding a 4-under 68 at the Grand Country Club, bettered his 2-under 69 Monday with a 3-under 68 today. Starting on the 10th hole, Guezzale got things going with three birdies in a four-hole stretch, including the par-3, 242-yard 16th and the par-5, 580-yard 17th, and, following a par on the par-4, 456-yard 18th, another on the par-4, 433-yard first. His first bogey of the day came on the par-3, 185-yard fourth, but he bounced back with a birdie on the par-3, 216-yard eighth to sign for a 68.
 
Puwit Anupansuebsai, meanwhile, is just a shot back from Guezzale and Davenport in a four-way tie for third at 4-under 138 after tying for the lowest round of the day at 4-under 67. Anupansuebsai shook off a bogey-bogey start on the par-3, 163-yard 10th and par-5, 551-yard 11th by going 6-under the rest of the way with six birdies and no bogeys. He began his birdie barrage on the par-4, 455-yard 13th and got back to even for the round with another on No. 17. The three-time all-Mountain West selection caught fire on his back nine with birdies on No. 1, No. 4, the par-5, 565-yard fifth and eighth, moving from a tie for 19th to a tie for third.
 
Zihao Jin is SDSU's third player in the top 10 following a 2-under 69 on Tuesday and is tied for eighth overall at 2-under 140. Jin, who was tied for 19th after an opening round 71, finished with four birdies and two bogeys today. On his front nine, Jin birdied No. 13 and No. 16 while bogeying No. 11 and No. 17. Jin went this final 10 holes without a bogey, recording birdies on No. 5 and the par-5, 526-yard seventh hole. Five others are tied with Jin in eighth place.
 
Callum Bruce (72, +1) and Steve Sugimoto (73, +2) were the lone San Diego State players not to break par on a day which the average scoring was 72.89 on the par-71 track. Bruce overcame a 2-over front nine with a 1-under back nine and is tied for 21st overall at even-par 142. Bruce had three birdies on his back nine - par-4, 442-yard second, No. 5 and No. 7 - but unfortunately double-bogeyed the par-4, 421-yard sixth.
 
Sugimoto managed only two birdies in the second round, first on the 16th and then on the seventh, and had four bogeys, including his first (No. 10) and his last (par-4, 465-yard ninth) holes. Sugimoto, who was named to his first all-MW team last week, is tied for 43rd at 3-over 145.
 
The Aztecs (-11) will be paired with No. 13 Vanderbilt (-9) and No. 24 Arkansas (-5) in Wednesday's final round, beginning at 7:30 a.m. CT (5:30 a.m. PT) on the first hole.
 
NCAA Kingston Springs Regional
Kingston Springs, Tenn.
Day Two Results
Golf Club of Tennessee
Par 71, 7,107 yards
 
Team Standings (Top 5 of 13 teams)
1. No. 26 San Diego State…281-276—557 (-11)
2. No. 13 Vanderbilt…279-280—559 (-9)
3. No. 24 Arkansas…283-280—563 (-5)
4. No. 10 North Carolina State…277-288—565 (-3)
T5. No. 3 Clemson…287-279—566 (-2)
T5. No. 42 Charlotte…289-277—566 (-2)
 
Individual Leaders (Top 5 of 75 players + SDSU)
T1. Youssef Guezzale (San Diego State)…69-68—137 (-5)
T1. Reid Davenport (Vanderbilt)…65-72—137 (-5)
T3. Puwit Anupansuebsai (San Diego State)…71-67—138 (-4)
T3. Pietro Bovari (Virginia)…70-68—138 (-4)
T3. William Buhl (Arkansas)…69-69—138 (-4)
T3. Evan Brown (Loyola Maryland)…67-71—138 (-4)
---
T8. Zihao Jin (San Diego State)…71-69—140 (-2)
T20. Callum Bruce (San Diego State)…70-72—142 (E)
T42. Steve Sugimoto (San Diego State)…72-73—145 (+3)
^ competing as an individual