PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Freshman Matt McCarty shot an even-par 71 leading Santa Clara men's golf to a 296 total and a third-place tie after the first round of the Saint Mary's Invitational. The middle of the three-round event gets underway Tuesday morning at the 6,927-yard, par-71 Poppy Hills Golf Club.

The Broncos are tied with host Saint Mary's, Oregon State and Arizona at 12-over 296 after the opening 18 holes, six shots behind co-leaders Gonzaga and Fresno State. All five teams are ranked higher than the Broncos in the recent Golfstat.com poll. "Considering we hung in there with the top teams tells you about the quality of our round," said head coach Rob Miller.

McCarty paced the Broncos with 12 pars and is tied with two other players just two-strokes behind first round co-leaders Tim Widing from USF and Eduardo Carrete from Saint Mary's.

"Matt played really well," Miller noted. "We moved him to the No. spot and it was good to see him rise to the challenge. He's gaining more and more confidence with each round."

Junior Hayden Shieh is tied for 13th after his 2-over 73. "Hayden had a good day and it could have been better if not for a bogey on the last hole," Miller said.

Playing in his second event of the season and first as part of the five-player team, sophomore Derek Ackerman had a counting score with a 4-over 75 to tie for 29th. Michiel Eyre III chipped in with a 6-over 77 and Charlie Watson carded a 9-over 80.

Competing as individuals, senior Evan McLeod carded a 5-over 76 and freshman Devrath Das was a shot behind at 6-over 77.

"It was a good start and overall a good day," Miller added.

Santa Clara Final Individual Results

T3.     Matt McCarty             71 (E)

T13.   Hayden Shieh             73 (+2)

T29.   Derek Ackerman         75 (+4)

T53.   Michiel Eyre III            77 (+6)

T72.   Charlie Watson           80 (+9)

Competing as an individual

T44.   Evan McLeod *          76 (+5)

T53.   Devrath Das*             77 (+6)