LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. — A record-breaking day from Jai Bahl and the Sacramento State men's golf team lifted both into first place following the second round of the Big Sky Championship on Tuesday at Wigwam Golf Resort. Behind an eagle and nine birdies, Bahl shot 61 while the Hornets finished the round at 18-under par (270).
 
The scores set the school and Big Sky Championship single round records. Bahl also tied the course record.
 
Bahl was bogey free during his round and got off to a quick start with birdies on Nos. 1, 4 and 5. After a par on No. 6, he birdied the par-4 seventh, eagled the 398-yard, par-4 eighth and birdied the par-4 ninth to leave him at 7-under at the turn.  He played the first six holes on the back side of the course at 1-under with a birdie on the par-3 11^th. Bahl jumped back on the birdie train with birdies on the final three holes.
 
His score shattered his previous best of 68 from earlier this season and moved him one stroke ahead of Chad Wood's school record of 62 which was set in 2005. The previous low by a Hornet at the Big Sky Championships was 63 from Jeff Carr in 2019.
 
Sacramento State also counted a 68 from Gabriel Smith, a 69 from Max Thomas and a 72 from Zach Matzke in its team total. The total bettered the record of 271 which came at the 2015 Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational and matched at the 2023 Nick Watney Invitational. However, both those tournaments were par-71 meaning Tuesday's round was five shots better relative to par. The previous low for Sacramento State at a Big Sky Championship was 275 (-13) in the first round of the 2016 tournament.
 
The Hornets will take an 11-shot lead over Idaho into the final round on Wednesday. The winning team will earn an automatic berth to an NCAA regional.
 
Smith matched his first-round performance and is in second place overall, two shots back of Bahl. Smith played the front nine at 3-under with birdies on Nos. 1, 5 and 7. A birdie on the par-4 12^th and a bogey on No. 13 kept him 3-under until he eagled the 535-yard, par-5 14^th. Following three pars, Smith bogeyed No. 18.
 
Thomas and Matzke are tied for 16^th place through two rounds. Thomas bounced back from a difficult first round to shoot 3-under on Tuesday. The sophomore opened birdie-bogey and stayed even until birdies on Nos. 7 and 8. An early bogey on the back nine (No. 11) was followed by birdies on Nos. 12 and 14.
 
Matzke was 1-over on the front side of the course with a birdie on the par-3 sixth and a double bogey on the par-4 ninth. He had a pair of birdies, bogeys and pars over the first six holes on the back nine before moving to even with a birdie on the par-4 17^th.
 
Zach Mate is in 28^th place following a 76 in the second round. Mate's round was comprised of three birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey.
 
The final round of the tournament will start at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The Hornets will be paired with Idaho and Weber State in the second wave beginning at 7:20 a.m.
 
BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIP
Litchfield Park, Ariz. | Wigwam GR
Par 72 | 7,066 Yards
 
Team Standings
1. Sacramento State 290-270-560
2. Idaho 291-280-571
3. Weber State 299-273-572
4. Francis Marion 294-281-575
5. Northern Colorado 293-286-579
6. Eastern Washington 303-282-585
 
Individual Top Five
1. Jai Bahl, SAC, 73-61-134
2. Gabriel Smith, SAC, 68-68-136
3. Matthew Wilson, WSU, 73-67-140
4. Bobby Kincaid, WSU, 74-67-141
T5. Chan Lee, FM, 73-69-142
T5. Samuel Johnson, UI, 72-70-142
 
Sacramento State Scores
1. Jai Bahl 73-61-134
2. Gabriel Smith 68-68-136
T16. Zach Matzke 74-72-146
T16. Max Thomas 77-69-146
28. Zach Mate 75-76-151