PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- USF's men's golf team is tied for 10th place after the first round of the Saint Mary's Invitational being contested at the Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach.
The Dons posted a team score of 295 on Monday and at 11-over par, are tied with WCC foe San Diego for 10 place in the 15-team field.
The host Gaels lead the team event after carding a 5-under 279 over the par-71 Poppy Hills layout, good for an eight-stroke lead over second place San Diego State, which posted a 287. Santa Clara (290) and Washington State are tied for third place, 11 strokes off the pace.
USF was paced by
Storm Lee on Monday, as the freshman shot an even-par 71 in his collegiate debut and is tied for eighth-place heading into Tuesday's second round. Lee made the turn at 1-over par only to pick-up three birdies on the backside to finish with a 71.
Lee is four strokes off the pace being set by first round leader Alex Chiarella of San Diego, who shot a 4-under 67 to build a one-stroke lead over Derek Bayley of Washington State. A total of 13 golfers are within four strokes of the lead after the first round of play.
Senior
Sebastian Crookall-Nixon is tied for 19th place after an opening round 73. The Englishman birdied his first hole of the day - the reachable par-5 10th hole - and made the turn 1-under. However, he ran into a rough patch on his second nine and played holes 11, 12, 13 and 14 three-over par. He settled down and finished with four straight pars and a 73.
Sophomore
Henry Chung is tied for 30th after carding an 74 on Monday. Chung picked up birdies on the par-5 18th hole (his 9th) and the fourth hole (his 13th).
Jalen Griffin's eagle on the par-5 ninth hole wasn't enough to offset three double bogeys and the sophomore had to settle for a six-over 77.
Junior
Max Alcorn had an uphill battle all day after opening with a double bogey en route to a seven-over 78.
The second round of the Saint Mary's Invitational will be held tomorrow morning at Poppy Hills with final round action slated for Wednesday.
