LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. — Jake Aberle tied his career best to help the Sacramento State men's golf team claim a four-stroke lead following the first round of the Big Sky Championship at Wigwam Golf Resort on Tuesday.

The Hornets finished the round at 7-under par as a team and are followed by Idaho (3-under), Weber State (even) and Northern Colorado (6-over). The teams will play two additional rounds over the next two days with the winner of the tournament earning an automatic berth to an NCAA regional.

Aberle shot 67 with the aid of a stellar back nine. After two birdies and three bogeys on the front side of the course, the sophomore carded birdies on Nos. 11, 12, 13 14, 16 and 17 to play the final nine holes at 6-under par. His total matched his effort from the first round of the Nick Watney Invitational in Fresno, Calif., earlier this season. Aberle has a two-stroke lead over teammate Gabriel Smith and Idaho's Joe Sykes who are tied for second place.

Smith started his round with an eagle on the 548-yard, par-5 first hole to get to 2-under and remained there at the midway point of his round following three birdies and three bogeys on the front nine. He started the back nine with three pars before a bogey on the par-4 13th. A birdie on No. 14 returned him to 2-under and he added a birdie on the par-3 16th before closing with a pair of pars.

Luke Dugger is tied for fourth place following a 2-under par round of 70. Dugger started strong, alternating birdies and pars over his first six holes to get to 3-under. His lone bogey of the day came on the par-4  ninth and was trailed by nine pars on the back nine.

Jeffrey Perry completed the team total with a 75 which ties him for 14th place. Perry had two bogeys and seven pars on the front side. He began the back nine with five pars before bogeys on Nos. 15 and 16 rose him to 4-over on the day. After a par on No. 17, he birdied the par-4 18th to finish at 3-over.

Zach Mate had two birdies and seven bogeys in his round which left him at 5-over and tied him for 19th place on the day.

The teams will return to action tomorrow morning at 6:30 a.m. PT.

BIG SKY MEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Litchfield Park, Ariz. | Wigwam GC (Gold Course)
Par 72 | 7,051 Yards

Team Standings
1. Sacramento State 281
2. Idaho 285
3. Weber State 288
4. Northern Colorado 294

Individual Top Five
1. Jake Aberle, SAC, 67
T2. Gabriel Smith, SAC, 69
T2. Joe Sykes, UI, 69
T4. Luke Dugger, SAC, 70
T4. Hayden Banz, WSU, 70
T4. Samuel Johnson, UI, 70

Sacramento State Scores
1. Jake Aberle 67
T2. Gabriel Smith 69
T4. Luke Dugger 70
T14. Jeffrey Perry 75
T19. Zach Mate 77