PALM DESERT, Calif. – Jack Avrit and Berk Harvey are both in the top 15, but the remainder of the Santa Clara men's golf contingent struggled on the opening day of the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate.
Avrit and Harvey each shot a 1-over-par 73 on the 7,305-yard Classic Club course and sit in a tie for 11th place after 18 holes.
Unfortunately for the Broncos, who are tied for 13th with Cal Poly following a 16-over total of 304 on Friday, Harvey is playing as an individual and his score didn't count toward the team total.
Konrad Brauckmeyer is tied for 34th following a 3-over 74 and Matt McCarty is one shot behind the freshman and tied for 47th.
Derek Ackerman (tied for 94th) shot an 80 and Zack Kaneshiro (114th) an 83.
Avrit, who missed the fall due to injury, had four birdies on his round, which started from the 10th tee.
"Jack played well today," Santa Clara head coach Rob Miller said. "It's nice to see him back and playing with confidence. He's playing as well as he did during the fall last year."
Santa Clara has some work to do in the 21-team field, but is only seven shots outside the top five.
Texas Tech and Colorado share the team lead after shooting a 2-over 290.
"Hopefully we can put a good round together tomorrow and make up some ground and get ourseleves into the top five.
The Broncos are navigating their way through a set lineup this spring.
"Berk and Konrad have played well and contributed, but we're still trying to find a level of consistency," Miller said.
David Ravetto of TCU and Skyler Eubank of Boise State share the individual lead at 4-under.
Tee times on Saturday begin at 8 a.m. The tournament concludes on Sunday with 18 holes.
Click here to follow the live scoring through Golfstat.
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