Aztecs Move to Third at Western Intercollegiate

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- The San Diego State men's golf team carded the third-lowest round in the 14-team field on Tuesday's moving day and is in third place at the suspended 75th annual Western Intercollegiate. The windy day caused long delays and forced a suspension because of darkness for the second consecutive day with two players still on the course at the historic par-70, 6,615-yard Pasatiempo Golf Club.
 
The Aztecs fired a 15-over-par 365 in today's second round of the six-count-five event and through 36 holes are at 44-over 744. No. 9 Texas leads the tournament after two rounds at 27-over 727, while No. 8 Pepperdine (+31), SDSU (+43), No. 6 Washington (+49) and No. 30 Arizona (+49) round out the top five. Washington's final two golfers will complete the 18th hole of the second round at 8:10 a.m. PT Wednesday.
 
Only Texas (6-over 356) and Pepperdine (11-over 361) shot better than San Diego State's 365 today. The Aztecs were 14 strokes better than yesterday's opening 379 (+29) and beat their playing partner California (+30) by 15 shots.
 
Justin Hastings (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands) continues to lead the way for SDSU and is tied for fourth out of 92 golfers at 3-over 143. Hastings followed up his 2-over 72 in Monday's first round with a 1-over 71 today. The freshman came up with birdies after his first two bogeys, including the par-5, 565-yard sixth and the par-5, 502-yard ninth holes, respectively. Another bogey to start his back nine on the par-4, 440-yard 10th was followed by eight consecutive pars to sign for a 71. Hastings has parred 27 of his 36 holes over the first two rounds, tied for the most in the field.
 
Fellow freshman Shea Lague (Jamul, Calif./Steele Canyon HS) was six strokes better on Tuesday with a 1-over 71, which has him in a tie for 18th at 8-over 148 through 36 holes. Lague, who moved up 22 spots today, sank four birdies offset by five bogeys and finished even-par over his final 10 holes. His birdies came on the opening par-4, 505-yard first, the par-4, 378-yard fourth, the par-4, 346-yard seventh and the par-3, 141-yard 15th.
 
Youssef Guezzale (San Diego/La Jolla HS), meanwhile, is tied for 35th at 11-over 151 through two rounds. Guezzale logged a 6-over 76 today with his lone birdie coming on the ninth. He opened with a double-bogey on the first, had another on the par-4, 373-yard 12th and also recorded three bogeys.
 
Zihao Jin (Beijing/Rancho Bernardo HS) was two strokes better in today's second round, finishing with a 5-over 75. Through two rounds, Jin is tied for 38th at 12-over 152. He finished both the front nine and back nine strong with a birdie on the ninth and the par-3, 181-yard 18th, but had three bogeys and a pair of double bogeys over the rest of the round.
 
Puwit Anupansuebsai (Nakhon Phanom, Thailand) came back from a 13-over 83 on Monday with a 2-over 72 today, and is tied for 49th at +15. Surprisingly Anupanusebsai did not have a bogey in today's round while logging birdies on three of the five par-3s and the ninth. Anupansuebsai, however, signed for three double bogeys in a five-hole stretch (No. 8 (par-3, 177 yards), No. 10 and No. 12). Still, the three-time all-Mountain West selection moved up 32 places from Monday.
 
Steve Sugimoto (San Diego/Rancho Bernardo HS) carded his second straight 8-over 78 and is tied in 61st at +16. Sugimoto was unable to record a birdie today, instead posting six bogeys and a double bogey on the 10th.
 
Colorado State's Rasmus Hjelm leads after two rounds and is the only golfer under par at -1. Pierceson Coody (Texas) and Dylan Menante (Pepperdine) are tied for second at +2, while Hastings, Cole Hammer (Texas) and Chase Sienkiewicz (Arizona) are each tied for fourth at +3.
 
The Aztecs will play with Texas, Pepperdine and Washington in the final group on Wednesday, starting from the first hole at 8:54 a.m. PT.
 
Western Intercollegiate
Pasatiempo Golf Club - Santa Cruz, Calif.
Par 70, 6,615 yards
April 11-13, 2022
Day Two Results (Round 2) (completed unless otherwise noted)
 
Team Standings (Top 5 of 14)
1. No. 9 Texas…371-356—727 (+27)
2. No. 8 Pepperdine…370-361—731 (+31)
3. San Diego State…379-365—744 (+44)
T4. No. 6 Washington…373-(+26 through 17 holes)—n/a (+49)
T4. No. 30 Arizona…381-368—749 (+49)
 
Individual Leaders (Top 6 of 92 players + SDSU)
1. Rasmus Hjelm (Colorado State)…70-69—139 (-1)
T2. Pierceson Coody (Texas)…70-72—142 (+2)
T2. Dylan Menante (Pepperdine)…70-72—142 (+2)
T4. Justin Hastings (San Diego State)…72-71—143 (+3)
T4. Cole Hammer (Texas)…73-70—143 (+3)
T4. Chase Sienkiewicz (Arizona)…72-72—143 (+3)
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T18. Shea Lague (San Diego State)…77-71—148 (+8)
T35. Youssef Guezzale (San Diego State)…75-76—151 (+11)
T38. Zihao Jin (San Diego State)…77-75—152 (+12)
T49. Puwit Anupansuebsai (San Diego State)…83-72—155 (+15)
T61. Steve Sugimoto (San Diego State)…78-78—156 (+16)
^ competing as an individual