Cedar Rapids, Iowa----- Four of San Jose State University's five-man lineup posted a score of even par or lower in the first round of the GolfWeek Conference Challenge to propel the Spartans to a fourth place start after 18 holes.
San Jose State has a team total of five-under par 283. Arkansas State holds the first-round lead at 11-under par 277. Jacksonville at 281 and host Iowa at 282 are ahead of the Spartans. As a team, San Jose State had 18 birdies and every Spartan had three or more in their respective round.
"We hung in there pretty well. For the most part we played pretty smart and stayed in it. We worked with conservative targets and assertive swings," said San Jose State men's golf coach John Kennaday whose team made 18 birdies. "This is a heck of a golf course, a Donald Ross design, that is an absolute gem. You can make some birdies out here, but it can bite you real quick."
Junior Sean Yu led the way with a bogey-free three-under par 69 followed by sophomore Bryce Wortman's two-under 70 on the par 72, 7,112-yard Donald Ross Course at the Cedar Rapids Country Club. Teammates Kevin Velo and Ben Campbell posted even par 72's for the Spartans' 283 in the team scoring.
The Spartans did not count Matt Heitel's debut, a one-over par 73, in the team scoring.
In the individual competition, Yu is tied for fourth; Wortman, tied ninth; and Velo and Campbell, are tied for 23rd place in the 85-player field.
Jacksonville's Thomas Thurloway is the leader after 18 holes with a six-under 66. Thirty-five players matched or bettered par in the opening round.
The 54-hole tournament continues with 18 holes on September 17 and concludes with 18 holes on September 18. Live scoring is available at golfstat.com.