STOCKTON, Calif. – Led by junior Gio Gandionco, who sits in second place, one shot off the lead after carding a career-low round of 4-under 67 today, Santa Clara men's golf team sits in ninth-place after the first round of the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational.
The entire 11-team field is separated by only 19 shots with Washington State holding the top spot after scoring a 275 (-9) today. After a tough start the Broncos picked up their play and scored a team round of 289 (+5), leaving them just four shots out of the top five.
Gandionco played the back-nine at 4-under, including an eagle-2 on the 12th hole, on his way to a fifth consecutive sub-par round. He also bested his previous career-low round of 68, which was tied at last week's Bill Cullum Invitational. Gandionco's run of sub-par play began with a 1-under 70 in the final round of the Utah Ogio Invitational on Oct. 7.
Washington State's Charlie Mroz leads the field after scoring a 5-under 66.
Freshman Hayden Shieh fired a 1-under 70 and completed play tied for ninth place with seven other golfers.
Despite an eagle on the par-5 16th hole, Tyler Kertson ended the round at 3-over 74 and tied for 41st place. Drew Miller and Evan McLeod each shot a 7-over 78 and are tied for 59th.
With a threat of rain in tomorrow's forecast, the second round start time has been moved up 30 minutes to 8:00 a.m. (PT). Play will once again begin from the first and tenth tee boxes in 10-minute intervals. The Broncos will be grouped with BYU and Denver and start from the tenth tee box at 8:50 a.m. (PT).
A tournament recap and results will be posted on SantaClaraBroncos.com at the conclusion of each round.
Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational 1st Round Standings
1. Washington State 275 = 275 (-9)
T2. Pacific 281 = 281 (-3)
T2. Grand Canyon 281 = 281 (-3)
4. BYU 283 = 283 (-1)
T5. Denver 285 = 285 (+1)
T5. Sacramento State 285 = 285 (+1)
7. Fresno State 286 = 286 (+2)
8. Nevada 288 = 288 (+4)
9. Santa Clara 289 = 289 (+5)
10. Long Beach State 290 = 290 (+6)
11. CSU-Bakersfield 294 = 294 (+10)
Santa Clara 1st Round Individual Results
2. Gio Gandionco 67 = 67 (-4)
T9. Hayden Shieh 70 = 70 (-1)
T41. Tyler Kertson 74 = 74 (+3)
T59. Drew Miller 78 = 78 (+7)
T59. Evan McLeod 78 = 78 (+7)
T61. Michael Hultquist* 79 = 79 (+8)
*Playing as individual