SDSU Takes Eighth at Western Intercollegiate

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- The San Diego State men's golf team finished eighth in a loaded 14-team field at the Western Intercollegiate Wednesday at the historic par-70, 6,514-yard Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, California.
 
The Aztecs, who are 27th in the latest GolfStat computer rankings, shot a 16-over-par 366 in today's final round and finished at 28-over 1,078 for the tournament. Among the six teams SDSU bested include No. 19 Arizona (+30) and No. 33 Washington (+43). No. 9 Pepperdine won the event at -16, while No. 22 Oregon was the only other team under par at -7. No. 50 California (E), No. 8 Stanford (+18), No. 24 Colorado State (+19) and No. 43 Brigham Young (+19) rounded out the top 6.
 
Unlike the other team events, the Western Intercollegiate is a six-count-five event, meaning six players are in the starting lineup with five counted for scores. Usually collegiate tournaments consist of five players in the starting lineup with four counted for scores.
 
Sophomore Justin Hastings (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands) shot an even-par 70 in today's final round when the average score was 74.89 out of the 92 golfers. Only six golfers shot better than Hastings today with a low of 2-under 68. Hastings had two birdies for a front nine of 2-under 33, but bogeyed three times on the back nine with one birdie for his 70.
 
Junior Skyler Ngo (Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman HS) tied for 31st at 6-over 216 with a 3-over 73 today. Ngo got to 1-under on his round with a birdie on the par-5, 502-yard ninth, but had four bogeys on the back nine to sign for a 73.
 
Senior Youssef Guezzale (San Diego/La Jolla HS) was one shot behind Ngo in a tie for 34th at +7 following a 75 in Wednesday's final round. Guezzale was unable to record a birdie today after opening with a 69 and 73 on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
 
Freshman Chanachon Chokprajakchat (Bangkok, Thailand), who was named the Mountain West Golfer and Freshman Golfer of the Week on Thursday for his play at the Wyoming Cowboy Classic (T-4th), finished in a tie for 48th at 9-over 219, ending with a 73 today. The highlight of the day for Chokprajakchat was an eagle on the ninth. He also birdied the par-3, 173-yard 18th, overcoming four bogeys and a double bogey on the par-4, 366-yard 17th.
 
Freshman Dylan Oyama (Carlsbad, Calif./Pacific Ridge HS) tied for 55th at +10 with a 5-over 75 today, while sophomore Shea Lague (Jamul, Calif./Steele Canyon HS) tied for 58th at +11 following a 9-over 79 on Wednesday.
 
Pepperdine's Derek Hitchner captured medalist honors at -7, one shot ahead of UNLV's Yuki Moriyama (-6) and Oregon's Owen Avrit (-6).
 
SDSU looks to defend its Mountain West Championship, set for April 28-30 at Omni Tucson National Golf Club Tucson, Arizona.
 
Western Intercollegiate
Santa Cruz, Calif.
Day Three Results (April 12, 2023)
Pasatiempo Golf Club
Par 70, 6,514 yards
 
Team Standings (Top 6 of 14 teams + SDSU)
1. No. 9 Pepperdine…345-328-361—1,034 (-16)
2. No. 22 Oregon…335-352-356—1,043 (-7)
3. No. 50 California…334-362-354—1,050 (E)
4. No. 8 Stanford…339-359-370—1,068 (+18)
T5. No. 24 Colorado State…352-359-358—1,069 (+19)
T5. No. 43 Brigham Young…352-340-377—1,069 (+19)
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8. No. 27 San Diego State…355-357-366—1,078 (+28)
 
Individual Leaders (Top 5) of 92 players + SDSU)
1. Derek Hitchner (Pepperdine)…68-64-71—203 (-7)
T2. Yuki Moriyama (UNLV)…68-67-69—204 (-6)
T2. Owen Avrit (Oregon)…65-66-73—204 (-6)
4. Sam Choi (Pepperdine)…66-65-74—205 (-5)
5. Sampson Zheng (California)…66-70-70—206 (-4)
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T22. Justin Hastings (San Diego State)…71-73-70—214 (+4)
T31. Skyler Ngo (San Diego State)…71-72-73—216 (+6)
T34. Youssef Guezzale (San Diego State)…69-73-75—217 (+7)
T48. Chanachon Chokprajakchat (San Diego State)…71-75-73—219 (+9)
T55. Dylan Oyama (San Diego State)… 75-70-75—220 (+10)
T58. Shea Lague (San Diego State)…73-69-79—221 (+11)