LA JOLLA, Calif. — Despite shooting its highest single-round score of the year, the Sacramento State men's golf team is tied for third place and only two shots off the lead following the first round of the UC San Diego Invitational on Sunday. The tournament is being held at Torrey Pines GC which has been the site of a pair of US Opens as well as the annual Farmers Insurance Classic and the course proved to be as difficult as expected.
 
The Hornets were led by Zach Mate who is tied for sixth overall following a 1-over par round of 73. Mate had just six pars during his round and relied on six bogeys to balance five bogeys and a double bogey. He is two shots back of a trio of golfers who hold the lead following the first round at 1-under par.
 
Max Thomas provided a round of 75 and is tied for 14^th. Thomas had two birdies and five bogeys in his round. The team also counted a 76 from Zachary Matzke and a 79 from Luke Dugger. Matzke had one birdies and five bogeys during his round but is still in the top 20 as he is tied for 19^th place. Dugger saw his streak of five-consecutive rounds below par come to a close as he had two birdies, seven bogeys and a double bogey.
 
CSUN and New Mexico State are tied for the team lead at 13-over par (301). The pair are two-strokes clear of Sacramento State and UC Riverside  while UC Irvine totaled 304 and sits alone in fifth place.
 
The second of three rounds begins with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. on Monday. The Hornets will be paired with CSUN, NMSU and UC Riverside and tee off of holes Nos. 1-3.
 
UC San Diego Invitational
La Jolla, Calif. | Torrey Pines GC
Par 72 | 7,802 Yards
 
Team Stadnings
T1. Cal State Northridge 301
T1. New Mexico State 301
T3. Sacramento State 303
T3. UC Riverside 303
5. UC Irvine 304
T6. UC San Diego 306
T6. George Mason 306
T8. Arkansas State 307
T8. North Dakota State 307
10. Seattle U 308
11. Utah State 309
T12. Gonzaga 311
T12. Lehigh 311
14. Air Force 312
15. Oklahoma Christian 315
T16. DePaul 316
T16. Cal Baptist 316
18. Houston Christian 321
19. Bucknell 324
20. Prairie View 331
 
Individual Top Five
T1. Jake Roth, LEH, 71
T1. Thomas Schmidt, ARKST, 71
T1. Aidan Thomas, NMSU, 71
T4. Vaughn McMeans, GMU, 72
T4. Dominic De Luca, CSUN, 72
 
Sacramento State Scores
T6. Zach Mate 73
T14. Max Thomas 75
T19. Zach Matzke 76
T57. Luke Dugger 79
T83. Jake Aberle 81