Men’s Golf Slips in Second Round at NCAA Championships

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- In a day where the average score played almost a stroke higher than Friday, the 25th-ranked San Diego State men's golf team was unable to get things going in the second round of the NCAA Championships Saturday on the breezy par-70, 7,289-yard Grayhawk Golf Club in the Phoenix area.
 
The Aztecs shot a 21-over-par 301 on Saturday, slipping from a tie for eighth in the 30-team field into a tie for 22nd at 27-over 587. SDSU, which entered the championships as the No. 21 seed, is tied with No. 21 Florida, seven shots back of No. 22 Texas Tech (+20) and No. 23 Arkansas (+20), which are both tied for 14th.
 
The top 15 teams after Sunday's third round and top nine individuals not on one of those advancing teams will qualify for one additional day of stroke play Monday to determine the individual national champion and the top eight teams for match-play competition.
 
Just ahead of San Diego State and the Gators in a tie for 16th is No. 12 Georgia and No. 18 SMU at +21, while No. 32 Oregon State (+22), No. 5 Texas (+24), No. 14 Tennessee (+25) and No. 37 TCU (+25) also are near the top 15.  
 
No. 3 Oklahoma State shot a tournament-low 6-under 274 and leads at 6-under 554, while No. 1 Oklahoma (-1), No. 10 Arizona State (+2), No. 9 Pepperdine (+3), No. 8 Illinois (+6) and No. 10 North Carolina (+6) round out the top 5.
 
The Aztecs only found seven birdies on day where the average score was 73.70 and even higher for the afternoon wave, which faced a stiff breeze unlike yesterday's benign afternoon conditions.
 
"It played tough out there," head coach Ryan Donovan said. "Obviously we knew the winds were going to pick up and the scores yesterday afternoon were high so we knew what to expect. We just didn't execute. Our top guy didn't play as well as he has been playing all year, so that hurts us as well."
 
Steve Sugimoto led SDSU Saturday with a 3-over 73 and is tied for 33rd out of 156 players at 3-over 143. Starting on the 10th hole, Sugimoto recorded his first birdie on the par-4, 468-yard 12th hole and was bogey free through his first seven holes. Sugimoto, however, bogeyed the final two holes of his first nine - par-4, 405-yard 17th and par-4, 520-yard 18th - and then the par-4, 430-yard first to start his second nine. He also bogeyed the par-5, 562-yard fourth and the par-4, 502-yard seventh before ending his round on a high note with a birdie on the par-4, 468-yard ninth.
 
Puwit Anupansuebsai, who earlier in the day was named a PING All-West Region selection, was unable to get things going in a 6-over 76 in today's second round after carding a 2-under 68 on Friday. He's now tied for 45th for the tournament at 4-over 144. Anupansuebsai started with five consecutive pars before getting to red numbers with a birdie on the par-4, 450-yard 15th. The three-time all-Mountain West selection, however, followed with bogeys on the par-3, 173-yard 16th and the 17th, before double-bogeying the 18th for a 38 on his first nine. He seemed to right the ship with six straight pars after making the turn, but a bogey on No. 7 and a double bogey on the par-3, 188-yard eighth gave him a matching 38 on his second nine.
 
Zihao Jin and Callum Bruce are each tied for 132nd at 13-over 153. Jin shot a 5-over 75 today, recording one birdie (par-5, 650-yard 10th), six bogeys and 11 pars. Bruce, who shot an even-par 70 in yesterday's first round, struggled to a 13-over 83 today, failing to record a birdie, while having four bogeys, three double bogeys and a triple bogey on the par-4, 348-yard sixth.
 
Youssef Guezzale was two shots better today at 7-over 77 and is in a tie for 144th overall at 16-over 156. Guezzale sank a team-high three birdies - No. 16, No. 17 and No. 8 - but also had four bogeys and three double bogeys.
 
San Diego State will play the third round Sunday with Florida and North Carolina State, beginning at 12:15 p.m. PT from the first hole.
 
"We've got 18 holes more to play tomorrow and we're going to come out firing," Donovan said. "We're going to play with some grit. These guys are tough. I expect them to come out and put in a good round tomorrow."
 
NCAA Championships
Scottsdale, Ariz.
Day Two Results
Grayhawk Golf Club
Par 70, 7,289 yards
 
Team Standings (Top 5 of 30 teams + SDSU)
1. No. 3 Oklahoma State…280-274—554 (-6)
2. No. 1 Oklahoma…280-279—559 (-1)
3. No. 10 Arizona State…284-278—562 (+2)
4. No. 9 Pepperdine…277-286—563 (+3)
T5. No. 10 North Carolina…288-278—566 (+6)
T5. No. 8 Illinois…287-279—566 (+6)
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T22. San Diego State…286-301—587 (+27)
 
Individual Leaders (Top 5 of 156 players + SDSU)
1. Bo Jin (Oklahoma State)…67-65—132
T2. Ryggs Johnston (Arizona State)…72-63—135  
T2. Turk Pettit (Clemson)…68-67—135  
4. Carson Barry (Oregon State)…69-67—136  
T5. Quade Cummins (Oklahoma)…69-68—137  
T5.  Jonathan Brightwell (Oklahoma)…68-69—137
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T33. Steve Sugimoto (San Diego State)…70-73—143 (+3)
T45. Puwit Anupansuebsai (San Diego State)…68-76—144 (+4)
T132. Zihao Jin (San Diego State)…78-75—153 (+13)
T132. Callum Bruce (San Diego State)…70-83—153 (+13)
T144. Youssef Guezzale (San Diego State)…79-77—156 (+16)