UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. — Gabriel Smith shot a career-best 63 to spark the Sacramento State men's golf team during the opening day of the Redhawks Invitational on Monday at Chambers Bay. The Hornets are in 10^th place with a two-round total of 306-287-503.
 
After a 79 in the opening round, Smith moved into a tie for eighth place with an amazing 63 which included an eagle and eight birdies. Smith opened the round with four consecutive birdies on Nos. 10-13. His only bogey on the back nine came on No. 4 and he made the turn at 3-under. The junior again caught first early on the front side of the course with birdies on Nos. 1-3 and an eagle on the 480-yard par-4 fourth. Following two pars, he birdied the par-4 sevneth before a bogey on the par-5 eighth. Smith's score is tied for the second-best in school history and the lowest since Jonathan Tanihana at The Ka'anapali Classic on Oct. 31, 2021.
 
Luke Dugger is tied for 30^th place after shooting 72-76-148. Dugger was 1-over through his first six holes before birdies on Nos. 18-4 took him to 4-under. However, he closed at 1-over with bogeys on Nos. 5, 6 and 10 and a double bogey on No. 11. In the second round, Dugger had an eagle on the par-5 18^th, two birdies and six bogeys.
 
Jake Aberle ranked second on the team in the first round with a 76. Aberle's round consisted of four birdies, two bogeys, two double bogeys and a triple bogey. He returned in the second round with a birdie on No. 18 and five bogeys and is tied for 58^th place.
 
Max Thomas rallied from a difficult first round to shoot 74 in the afternoon. The freshman had three birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey in the second round and is tied for 72^nd at 79-74-153.
 
Zach Mate also had a significant improvement in the second round, taking eight strokes off his first round total. Mate's second round was comprised of three birdies, four bogeys and a triple bogey.
 
Utah Tech and St. Thomas are tied for the team lead at 9-over. The pair lead George Mason, Oregon State, Idaho and UC San Diego by three strokes. The Hornets are 16 strokes off the lead heading into the final round on Tuesday.

REDHAWKS INVITATIONAL
University Place, Wash. | Chambers Bay
Par 71 | 7,028 Yards
 
Team Standings
T1. Utah Tech 282-295-577
T1. St. Thomas 284-293-577
T3. George Mason 281-299-580
T3. George Mason 281-299-580
T3. Idaho 298-282-580
T3. UC San Diego 292-288-580
7. UC Riverside 292-289-581
8. Seattle U 286-296-582
9. George Washington 298-290-588
T10. Creighton 297-295-592
T10. Lamar 295-297-592
12. Sacramento State 306-287-593
T13. UC Santa Barbara 308-292-600
T13. Penn 297-303-600
15. Abilene Christian 303-300-603
16. Sacred Heart 303-303-606
17. Eastern Kentucky 306-302-608
18. North Idaho 300-309-609
 
Individual Top Five
1. Vaughn McMeans, GM, 70-69-139
T2. Hartej Grewal, UCR, 69-71-140
T2. Matt Armstrong, ST, 69-71-140
T4. Ashton McArthur, UT, 71-70-141
T4. Kevin Lin, SU, 69-72-141
T4. Rylan Johnson, OSU, 71-70-141
T4. Samir Davidov, GM, 68-73-141
 
Sacramento State Scores
T8. Gabriel Smith 79-63-142
T30. Luke Dugger 72-76-148
T58. Jake Aberle 76-75-151
T72. Max Thomas 79-74-153
T94. Zach Mate 83-75-158