SDSU MEN'S GOLF IN SIXTH AT ST. MARY'S INVITATIONAL

Aztecs’ Samiere, Sugimoto tied for eighth individually after first round

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo:  P.J. Samiere courtesy goaztecs.com

November 6, 2017 (Pebble Beach) - The San Diego State men’s golf team finds itself in sixth place at the Saint Mary’s Invitational after shooting a 5-over-par 287 on Monday during the opening round at the renowned Poppy Hills Golf Course.

With their performance, the Aztecs remain two shots behind fifth-place USC (+3) and one stroke in front of Brigham Young (+6) heading into Tuesday’s second round on the par-71, 7,002-yard layout.

San Francisco (-3) grabbed the lead after 18 holes, while Colorado State (-1) and Stanford (-1) are tied for the second spot, followed by host Saint Mary’s (+1).

Individually, PJ Samiere (Kailua, Hawaii) and Steve Sugimoto (San Diego, Calif.) were the lone SDSU starters to post red figures after each fired a 1-under 70 to finish the day in a tie for eighth.

Both players shared the team lead with four birdies apiece; however, Samiere’s round was highlighted by an eagle on his fourth hole of the day at the par-5, 629-yard No. 13 after suffering bogeys on the 10th and 12th greens.  The Aztec senior also recorded back-to-back drains on No. 18 and No. 1, but an additional bogey on the second hole, followed by a double at No. 4, prevented a loftier perch.

Sugimoto opened with a birdie on the par-4, 443-yard No. 3, which ranked as the third-toughest hole of the first round, before experiencing a pair two straight bogeys on the 14th and 15th greens. However, the Aztec freshman rebounded with a trio of birdies on the back nine, including a conversion on his finishing hole, the par-5, 515 No. 9, to complete his lowest score in a Scarlet and Black uniform thus far.

With their efforts, Samiere and Sugimoto ended the day in an eight-way logjam for eighth, three shots behind Justin Suh of USC, Patrick Fishburn of Brigham Young, Brad Reeves of Arizona and Parathakorn Suyasri of Colorado State, all of whom share the lead after 18 holes at 4-under 67.

In addition, Blake Abercrombie (Rocklin, Calif.) sits in a tie for 32nd after carding a 73 on Monday. The SDSU senior also closed with a birdie at No. 9 for his third conversion of the round. However, five bogeys, including three on the back nine, stymied his momentum.

Elsewhere, Trevor Norby (Carlsbad, Calif.) remains three shots behind Abercrombie in a tie for 55th after shooting a 76. Despite 11 pars, the Aztec sophomore was unable to generate any consistency, posting just one birdie on the par-5, 527-yard No. 1, while notching six bogeys.

Zihao Jin (Beijing, China), who is making his second consecutive appearance, ended the day in a tie for 68th on the heels of an opening-round 77. The SDSU freshman and prep teammate of Sugimoto at Rancho Bernardo High posted 11 pars of his own to go with a birdie on the par-4, 415-yard No. 17, but five bogeys along with a double on the par-4 14th proved too much to overcome.

Rounding out the Aztec delegation was another freshman Puwit Anupansuebsai (Nakhom Phanom, Thailand), an unattached golfer who completed the first 18 holes in a tie for 86th after posting a 79, highlighted by birdies on two of his final three holes at No. 16 and No. 18.

The Saint Mary’s Invitational continues on Tuesday when San Diego State tees off alongside USC and Brigham Young for the second round, starting on the 10th hole at 8:27 a.m. PT.

Saint Mary’s Invitational

Round One Results

Poppy Hills G.C.

Pebble Beach, Calif.

Par 71, 7,002 yards

Team Standings (Top 5 of 18 teams + SDSU)

1. San Francisco                                                               281 (-3)

T2. Colorado State                                                          283 (-1)

T2. Stanford                                                                     283 (-1)

4. Saint Mary’s                                                                 285 (+1)

5. USC                                                                               287 (+3)

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6. San Diego State                                                           289 (+5)

Individual Leaders (Top 5 of 100 players + SDSU)      

T1. Brad Reeves, Arizona                                                67 (-4)

T1. Justin Suh, USC                                                          67 (-4)

T1. Parathakorn Suyasri, Colorado State                      67 (-4)

T1. Patrick Fishburn, Brigham Young                            67 (-4)

5. Connor Blick, Saint Mary’s                                         68 (-3)

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T8. Steve Sugimoto, SDSU                                             70 (-1)

T8. PJ Samiere, SDSU                                                      70 (-1)

T32. Blake Abercrombie, SDSU                                     73 (+2)

T55. Trevor Norby, SDSU                                               76 (+5)

T68. Zihao Jin, SDSU                                                       77 (+6)

T86. Puwit Anupansuebsai, SDSU^                              79 (+8)

^ - competing as an individual

Day one results