DALLAS -- The San Diego State men's golf team fired a 22-under-par 266 in the second round and sits in third place at the prestigious Jackson T. Stephens Cup, which was suspended due to darkness Monday on the par-72, 7,369-yard Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas.
After opening with a 2-over 286 earlier in the day, the Aztecs were 20 strokes better in the second round at 266, tying for the sixth-best 18-hole round in program history. SDSU moved up four places in the seven-team invitational event as the only team to finish its second round.
Florida State leads the way at 36-under through 15-to-18 holes of its second round, while SMU (-26) is two strokes ahead of San Diego State through 13-to-15 holes. LSU (-22), Arizona (-20), Stanford (-19) and host Arkansas (-16) all could jump the Aztecs with anywhere from one-to-five holes still left to finish on Tuesday morning.
Sophomore Tyler Kowack (Del Mar, Calif./La Jolla HS) continued his hot start to the 2023-24 season and is tied for second at 9-under 135 through 36 holes. Kowack, who entered as the top SDSU golfer this season with a 69.89 stroke average, opened with a 3-under 69 which was dampened with two bogeys on his final three holes. In the second round, however, Kowack carded a 6-under 66 six birdies and no bogeys. He trails Florida State's Gray Albright (-10) by a stroke. Florida State's Cole Anderson (17 holes) and Arizona's Tiger Christensen (13 holes) are tied with Kowack for second, while Florida State's Brett Roberts (15 holes) and LSU's Connor Gaunt (13 holes) are tied for fifth with a few holes still to be completed of the second round.
Junior Justin Hastings (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands) is the No. 2 Aztec golfer through 36 holes in a tie for seventh at 7-under 137. Hastings opened with a 2-under 70, then came back with a 5-under 67, highlighted by five birdies and no bogeys.
Sophomore Chanachon Chokprajakchat (Bangkok, Thailand) rebounded from his 1-over 73 in the opening round with an impressive 7-under 65 in the second 18, and is tied for 12th at -6. After recording just two birdies (and three bogeys) in the morning, Chokprajakchat sank eight birdies in the afternoon against one bogey. Chokprajakchat birdied three of the first five holes, then later in the round notched three straight birdies on the par-4, 315-yard 14th, par-4, 420-yard 15th and par-5, 570-yard 16th. The 65 was a collegiate low for Chokprajakchat.
Like Chokprajakchat, sophomore Dylan Oyama (Carlsbad, Calif./Pacific Ridge HS) improved greatly in his second round, overcoming a 3-over 75 with a 4-under 68. Oyama is at 1-under and in a tie for 30th. Oyama had three birdies and six bogeys in his opening round, then came back with six birdies and just two bogeys for his 68 in the second round.
Junior Shea Lague (Jamul, Calif./Steele Canyon HS) also is in action for SDSU and is 37th at 3-over 147 with rounds of 74 and 73.
After the second round is completed on Tuesday morning, the final stroke play round will take place, which will determine seedings for Wednesday's match play.
Jackson T. Stephens Cup
Dallas, Texas
Day One Results (Oct. 9, 2023)
Trinity Forest Golf Club
Par 72, 7,369 yards
Team Standings
1. Florida State…271-(-19 through 15-18 holes)—n/a (-36)
2. SMU…279-(-17 through 13-15 holes)—n/a (-26)
3. San Diego State…286-266—552 (-24)
4. LSU…269-(-3 through 13-15 holes)—n/a (-22)
5. Arizona…278-(-10 through 13-15 holes)—n/a (-20)
6. Stanford…273-(-4 through 15-18 holes)—n/a (-19)
7. Arkansas…279-(-7 through 15-18 holes)—n/a (-16)
Individual Leaders (Top 6 of 42 players + SDSU)
1. Gray Albright (Florida State)…65-69—134 (-10)
T2. Tyler Kowack (San Diego State)…69-66—135 (-9)
T2. Cole Anderson (Florida State)…68-(-5 through 17 holes)—n/a (-9)
T2. Tiger Christensen (Arizona)…66-(-3 through 13 holes)—n/a (-9)
T5. Brett Roberts (Florida State)…69-(-5 through 15 holes)—n/a (-8)
T5. Connor Gaunt (LSU)…64-(E through 13 holes)—n/a (-8)
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T7. Justin Hastings (San Diego State)…70-67—137 (-7)
T12. Chanachon Chokprajakchat (San Diego State)…73-65—138 (-6)
T30. Dylan Oyama (San Diego State)…75-68—143 (-1)
37. Shea Lague (San Diego State)…74-73—147 (+3)
SDSU in Third after Suspended Round One at JTS Cup
