CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- The San Diego State men's golf team sits in fifth place after the first day of the RE Lamkin Invitational Monday at San Diego Country Club.
The Aztecs, who are 31st in the latest NCAA golf computer rankings, are fifth out of 16 teams at 9-under-par 567 following rounds of 5-under 283 and 4-under 284 on the par-72, 7,033-yard course. Colorado and No. 48 Fresno State are tied for the lead at -18, one shot ahead of co-host San Diego and No. 41 LMU at -17. Just behind SDSU is No. 19 New Mexico (-7) and No. 13 Georgia Tech (-6).
Chanachon Chokprajakchat (Bangkok, Thailand) is San Diego State's top golfer through 36 holes at 6-under 138, including a blistering 6-under 66 in the second round. It was the second-lowest second round in the 95-player field on a windy afternoon, one shot behind leader Craig Ronne of San Diego and his 65. Starting on the par-5, 513-yard second hole, Chokprajakchat bogeyed the opener, but then sank seven birdies over his next 14 holes, including a three-hole stretch from No. 14-to-No. 16. He cooled off with three straight pars to finish, but still moved up 40 places from earlier in the day. His even-par 72 in the morning saw three birdies and three bogeys.
Chokprajakchat is tied with three others for fifth, three shots back of Ronne (-9). Between Ronne and Chokprajakchat are LMU's Mason Snyder (-8) and Riley Lewis (-7), and Fresno State's Matthew Sutherland (-7).
Competing as an individual, Jack Townsend (San Diego/Charter School of San Diego) is tied for 25th at -2 with rounds of 73 and 69 today. In his 69, Towsend overcame a double-bogey on his third hole, the par-5, 460-yard 18th, by reeling off seven birdies the rest of the way, offset by a pair of bogeys. His first-round 73, he had four birdies against five bogeys.
Skyler Ngo (Las Vegas) is tied for 32nd at 1-under 143 with a 70 and 73, while Shea Lague (Jamul, Calif./Steele Canyon HS) is tied for 38th at even-par following a 73 and 71. Ngo's first round consisted of five birdies, one bogey and a double bogey on the par-3, 187-yard sixth hole. He managed only one birdie - par-5, 485-yard 14th - in the nightcap with two bogeys.
Lague ripped off three straight birdies over his final four holes of the second round before three-putting the par-4, 460-yard 18th to finish with five birdies and four bogeys, and a 71. In his first round, Lague carded a 73 with two birdies (and three bogeys).
Jackson Moss (San Diego/Point Loma HS) is tied for 51st at +2, logging rounds of 72 and 74.
Three other Aztecs competing as individuals are Nathan Sampson (Temecula, Calif./Great Oak HS) (T-68th, +4), Rugthai Thongsom (Surat Thani, Thailand) (T-83rd, +9) and Liam Koeneke (Del Mar, Calif./Torrey Pines HS) (94th, +21).
Tyler Kowack (Del Mar, Calif./La Jolla HS), SDSU's top golfer this season, opened with a 3-under 69, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5, 563-yard eighth and four birdies (and three bogeys). Kowack, however, was disqualified in the second round for signing an incorrect scorecard. He will be allowed to play and score for San Diego State in Tuesday's final round, which starts at 8 a.m. PT for the field and 8:45 a.m. PT for the Aztecs.
RE Lamkin Invitational
San Diego C.C. - Chula Vista, Calif.
Par 72, 7,033 yards
Day One Results (March 4, 2024)
Team Standings (top 5 of 16)
T1. Colorado…282-276—558 (-18)
T1. No. 48 Fresno State…276-282—558 (-18)
T3. San Diego…282-277—559 (-17)
T3. No. 41 LMU…279-280—559 (-17)
5. No. 31 San Diego State…283-284—567 (-9)
Individual Leaders (Top 8 of 95 players + SDSU)
1. Craig Ronne (San Diego)…70-65—135 (-9)
2. Mason Snyder (LMU)…65-71—136 (-8)
T3. Matthew Sutherland (Fresno State)…68-69—137 (-7)
T3. Riley Lewis (LMU)…68-69—137 (-7)
T5. Chanachon Chokprajakchat (San Diego State)…72-66—138 (-6)
T5. Hunter Swanson (Colorado)…71-67—138 (-6)
T5. Baron Szeto (Cal Poly)…69-69—138 (-6)
T5. Albert Boneta (New Mexico)…67-71—138 (-6)
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T25. ^Jack Townsend (San Diego State)…73-69—142 (-2)
T32. Skyler Ngo (San Diego State)…70-73—143 (-1)
T38. Shea Lague (San Diego State)…73-71-144 (E)
T51. Jackson Moss (San Diego State)…72-74—146 (+2)
T68. ^Nathan Sampson (San Diego State)…70-78—148 (+4)
T83. ^Rugthai Thongsom (San Diego State)…75-78—153 (+9)
94. ^Liam Koeneke (San Diego State)…81-84—165 (+21)
DQ. Tyler Kowack (San Diego State)…69-DQ—DQ
^ competing as an individual
SDSU in Fifth at RE Lamkin Invitational
