SDSU MEN'S GOLF LEADS AFTER DAY ONE IN NEW MEXICO

Aztecs’ PJ Samiere tied for first individually

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo: Pablo Montesanz courtesy goaztecs.com

September 23, 2016 (Alberquerque) - The 23rd-ranked San Diego State men’s golf team surged to an eight-stroke lead at the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate on Friday after carding a combined 3-under par 573 during the first two rounds at the par-72, 7,555-yard UNM Championship Course.

Perhaps inspired by the site of their dramatic playoff win at the NCAA regional championships last May, the Aztecs were the lone school to finish the day in red figures collectively, vaulting to the top of the standings ahead of fellow Mountain West rivals Colorado State (+5) and New Mexico (+7), while Brigham Young (+8) and UTEP (+10) round out the top five.

SDSU boasts four players among the individual top 10, paced by PJ Samiere, who finds himself in a three-way tie for first after shooting a 4-under 140 on rounds of 69-71. The Aztec junior sank seven birdies overall, including an impressive conversion on the par-4, 492-yard No. 5 in round two, which ranked as the most difficult hole on Friday. Not to be outdone, the 2016 Southwestern Amateur champion recorded back-to-back drains on the 14th and 15th greens in the morning to go along with an eagle-3 on the par-5, 544-yard No. 18.

With his performance, Samiere grabbed a share of the lead along with Brigham Young’s Rhett Rasmussen and Blake Cannon of Colorado State heading into Saturday’s final round. Meanwhile, Pepperdine’s Roy Cootes (-2) occupies the fourth position, one shot ahead of SDSU’s Gunn Yang (Pyeongchang, South Korea).

Yang fired rounds of 70-73 to finish the first 36 holes in a tie for fifth with Corey Pereira of Washington and New Mexico’s Andre Garcia at 1-under 143. The Aztec senior led the team with nine birdies on the day, including four on his final six holes of round one. Despite carding four bogeys in the afternoon, the 2014 U.S. Amateur champion still climbed two places on the leaderboard.

Elsewhere, senior Nahum Mendoza III (San Diego, Calif.) and junior Blake Abercrombie (Rocklin, Calif.) remain in contention as well after each shot a 1-over 145 to land in the 10th spot. Mendoza countered five bogeys in the opening round with five birdies and an eagle on the par-4, 360-yard No. 15 en route to a 70. The reigning Mountain West Player of the Year posted an additional three drains in the afternoon, but four bogeys and a double forced him to settle for a 75.

Abercrombie (71-74), meanwhile, played steady golf for most of the day, posting a team-high 29 pars to go with five birdies, including a successful make on the par-4, 506-yard 13th during round one, which ranked as the fourth-toughest hole on Friday.

Rounding out the Aztec starting rotation was junior Pablo Matesanz (Irun, Spain), who finds himself tied for 59th at 9-over 153, along with freshman Eric Ghim (Glendale, Ariz.), who is competing as an unattached golfer. Matesanz (78-75) overcame a two double-bogeys in the opening round with three birdies in the afternoon, including an impressive drain on the par-3, 267-yard No. 8, which ranked as the second-most difficult hole on Friday. Ghim completed rounds of 77-76, highlighted by five birdies of his own.

San Diego State will be aiming for its first victory at the Tucker Intercollegiate since 2010, when it tees off for the final round with Colorado State and New Mexico on Saturday, beginning at 7:30 a.m. MT/6:30 a.m. PT.

William H. Tucker Intercollegiate

Day One Results

UNM Championship Course

Albuquerque, N.M.

Par 72, 7,555 yards

Team Scores (Top 5 of 16 teams)

1. San Diego State                   280-293—573 (-3)

2. Colorado State                      287-294—581 (+5)

3. New Mexico                          282-301—583 (+7)

4. Brigham Young                     289-295—584 (+8)

5. UTEP                                    288-289—586 (+10)

Individual Leaders (Top 8 of 93 players + SDSU)        

T1. PJ Samiere, SDSU                                      69-71—140 (-4)

T1. Rhett Rasmussen, Brigham Young               69-71—140 (-4)

T1. Blake Cannon, Colorado State                     71-69—140 (-4)

4. Roy Cootes, Pepperdine                                71-71—142 (-2)

T5. Gunn Yang, SDSU                                      70-69—143 (+1)

T5. Andre Garcia, New Mexico                           66-77—143 (-1)

T5. Corey Pereira, Washington                          72-71—143 (-1)

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T10. Blake Abercrombie, SDSU                       71-74—145 (+1)

T10. Nahum Mendoza III, SDSU                       70-75—145 (+1)

T59. Pablo Matesanz, SDSU                            78-75—153 (+9)

T59. Eric Ghim, SDSU*                                     77-76—153 (+9)

* - competing as an individual

Day One results