SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Taylor Knoll matched his career best and is tied for sixth place to lead Sacramento State during the first day of the Lone Star Invitational on Monday at Briggs Ranch Golf Club. Knoll shot an even-par round of 72 in the morning and followed with a 67 in the afternoon. His second round score tied his career best which came earlier this year at the Bill Cullum Invitational.

Sacramento State is just 8-over as a team through the first two rounds but finds itself tied for 13th place in the highly competitive 16-team field.

Senior Luke Kristo led the team in the first round with a 2-under round of 70. Kristo started on the 10th hole with back-to-back bogeys before a birdie on the par-4 12th. A bogey on the par-3 15th returned him to 2-over. However, much like he did en route to winning the Sacramento State Invitational, Kristo played his final 11 holes of the first round at 4-under par. A birdie on the par-3 17th started the run. After five consecutive pars, he birdied the par-5 fifth and seventh as well as the par-4 ninth.

Knoll ranked second on the team in the opening round with a 70. His day started with eight straight pars before a bogey on the par-4 18th. Four additional bars came on holes Nos. 1-4. From there, he birdied Nos. 5, 7 and 8 but also bogeyed the par-4 sixth and ninth.

Sacramento State also counted a 76 from Robert Parden in the first round. Parden's round consisted of three birdies, three bogeys and two double bogeys. Both Aaron Beverly and Riley Hayfield completed the lineup with rounds of 77. The pair each had two birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey during the round.

In the second round, Knoll was even through his first nine holes with three birdies, three pars and three bogeys. Once he turned to the front side of the course, he birdied five of the first eight holes. The sophomore recorded a three on the first four holes (three par-4 and a par-3). He then parred Nos. 5 and 6 before birdies on the par-5 seventh and par-3 eighth. Knoll closed his day with a par on No. 9.

Kristo finished even but also made up ground on the front nine. He parred eight of his first nine holes with the exception being a bogey on the par-3 15th. A birdie on the par-4 second moved him to even and he eventually dropped to 2-under following birdies on Nos. 4 and 5. However, Kristo bogeyed his last two holes.

Beverly also rallied late in his round to finish with a 75. The sophomore opened on No. 9 and parred his first three holes. A birdie on the par-4 14th was joined by three bogeys and a double bogey to make him 4-over through 11 holes. Beverly then parred five of his last seven with birdies on the par-4 fourth and sixth.

Parden completed the team scoring in the second round with a 76. He had birdies on two holes along with four bogeys and a double bogey. Hayfield finished with a 78 consisting of a birdie, four bogeys and a double bogey.

Overall, the Hornets are 35 strokes back of sixth-ranked Texas Tech. The Red Raiders shot 275-274-549 and are 27-under as a team. Southeastern Louisiana, which is ranked 38th nationally, is second with a two-round total of 558.

Hannes Ronneblad of Texas Tech is the individual leader at 9-under par (70-65-135). Ronnenblad is one stroke ahead of teammate Clement Sordet.

Knoll is tied for sixth and is nine strokes out of the lead. Kristo is tied for 25th while Beverly is tied for 72nd.

The third round of the tournament will take place on Tuesday.

LONE STAR INVITATIONAL
San Antonio, Texas | Briggs Ranch GC
Par 72 | 7,247 Yards

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Texas Tech 275-274-549
2. Southeastern Louisiana 272-286-558
3. UTSA 284-281-565
4. UTEP 294-272-566
T5. Louisiana-Lafayette 293-276-569
T5. UT-Arlington 287-282-569
T7. Ohio State 294-277-571
T7. New Mexico State 285-286-571
9. North Texas 294-279-573
10. Texas State 291-285-576
11. Santa Clara 293-285-578
12. Bowling Green 294-288-582
T13. Sacramento State 295-289-584
T13. Rice 296-288-584
15. Houston Baptist 304-284-588
16. Central Arkansas 295-295-590

INDIVIDUAL TOP FIVE
1. Hannes Ronneblad, Texas Tech, 70-65-135
2. Clement Sordet, Texas Tech, 68-68-136
T3. Pep Angles, Central Arkansas, 70-67-137
T4. Jason Roets, North Texas, 70-68-138
T4. Grady Brame, Southeastern Louisiana, 69-69-138

SACRAMENTO STATE SCORES
T6. Taylor Knoll 72-67-139
T25. Luke Kristo 70-72-142
T72. Aaron Beverly 77-74-151
T78. Robert Parden 76-76-152
85. Riley Hayfield 77-77-154