Aztecs in a Tie for Ninth After First Day of Loaded Pauma Valley Invitational

PAUMA VALLEY, Calif. -- The San Diego State men’s golf team is tied for ninth place after the first round of the Pauma Valley Invitational Monday in Pauma Valley, California.

The Aztecs, who are 28th in the latest Scoreboard powered by clippd computer rankings, are tied with No. 3 Florida at 1-over-par 285 on the par-71, 7,311-yard Pauma Valley Country Club 18 holes of the 54-hole tournament, two shots ahead of No. 2 Virginia (+3) and No. 9 Illinois (+3) in the 16-team field. No. 15 Tennessee leads at 11-under, while No. 13 Ole Miss (-8), No. 7 Oklahoma State (-5), No. 20 Georgia Tech (-4), SMU (-3), No. 6 LSU (-1), No. 10 Texas Tech (-1) and No. 42 San Diego (E) are also ahead of SDSU.

Senior Chanachon Chokprajakchat (Bangkok, Thailand) and sophomore Kai Hirayama (Arcadia, Calif.) are each tied for eighth out of 92 golfers after shooting matching 3-under 68s. Chokprajakchat, who was named the Mountain West Men’s Golfer of the Week on Friday after taking third at last week’s R.E. Lamkin Invitational, had four birdies and bogey today. Hirayama, meanwhile, sank six birdies with three bogeys.

Sophomore Harry Takis (Brisbane, Australia), the third-ranked player in the latest Scoreboard ratings, is tied for 38th at 1-over 72. Takis had two birdies, which were offset by three bogeys.

Senior Tyler Kowack (San Diego/Canyon Crest Academy) and freshman Beau Sahr (Eagle, Idaho) both carded a 6-over 77 and are tied for 83rd.

LSU’s Jay Mendell and Oklahoma’s Preston Stout share the clubhouse lead at -6, while Tennessee Lance Simpson, Ole Miss’s Cameron Tankersley and Georgia Tech’s Aidan Tran are a shot back at -5.

San Diego State begins its second round on the 10th hole at 8:10 a.m. PT Tuesday, playing alongside No. 2 Virginia, No. 3 Florida and No. 9 Illinois.

Pauma Valley Invitational
Day One Results – March 16, 2026
Pauma Valley Country Club – Pauma Valley, Calif.
Par 71, 7,311 Yards

Team Standings
1. No. 15 Tennessee…273 (-11)
2. No. 13 Ole Miss…276 (-8)
3. No. 7 Oklahoma State…279 (-5)
4. No. 20 Georgia Tech…280 (-4)
5. SMU…281 (-3)
T6. No. 6 LSU…283 (-1)
T6. No. 10 Texas Tech…283 (-1)
8. No. 42 San Diego…284 (E)
T9. No. 3 Florida…285 (+1)
T9. No. 28 San Diego State…285 (+1)
T11. No. 2 Virginia…287 (+3)
T11. No. 9 Illinois…287 (+3)
13.Toledo…290 (+6)
14. East Tennessee State…292 (+8)
T15. Colorado State…293 (+9)
T15. LMU…293 (+9)

Individual Leaders (Top 5 of 92 players + SDSU)
T1. Jay Mendell (LSU)…65 (-6)
T1. Preston Stout (Oklahoma)…65 (-6)
T3. Lance Simpson (Tennessee)…66 (-5)
T3. Cameron Tankersley (Ole Miss)…66 (-5)
T3. Aidan Tran (Georgia Tech)…66 (-5)
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T8. Chanachon Chokprajakchat (San Diego State)…68 (-3)
T8. Kai Hirayama (San Diego State)…68 (-3)
T38. Harry Takis (San Diego State)…72 (+1)
T83. Beau Sahr (San Diego State)…77 (+6)
T83. Tyler Kowack (San Diego State)… 77 (+6)