Stockton, Calif.----- For the second time this season, all four San Jose State counting scores matched or bettered par for 18 holes as the Spartans took the first round lead at the Visit Stockton Pacific Invite men's golf tournament
San Jose State posted a team score of 13-under par 271 on the 6,480-yard par 71, Stockton Country Club course and has a four-stroke lead over #16-ranked Brigham Young University heading into the second round of the 54-hole tournament. At the first round of the Alister Mackenzie Invitational in Corte Madera, Calif., earlier in month, the Spartans' four counting scores in the first round were at par or better.
"It's nice to get off to a good start. We've got some work to do and we can do better," said San Jose State men's golf coach John Kennaday. "We've got to keep banging away at our game plan and take advantage of more opportunities out there."
Senior Kevin Velo led the way for the Spartans with a major college career best seven-under par 64 to grab the first-round individual lead. Velo birdied four of the first five holes and added a birdie and an eagle on the back nine. His 64 is good for a two-stroke lead over South Dakota's Ben Hicks, playing as an individual, and Peter Kuest of Brigham Young. Forty-four (44) of the 90 players were at even par or better.
"Kevin's had some pretty good rounds here and there. Today was a good round. We've all been excited to get back out there. At any point, any of these guys can shoot a round like that," Kennaday added about the first-round leader and his team overall. Three of Velo's nine rounds this fall have been four-under or lower.
Teammates Sean Yu and Ben Campbell turned in two-under 69s to tie for ninth place. Bryce Wortman and Matt Heitel matched par of 71 for San Jose State's 271.
Velo, Yu, Campbell, Wortman and Heitel combined for 21 birdies and an eagle. Equally important, the five Spartans had just 11 bogeys.
Nate Jetter, playing as an individual entry, signed for an even par 71.
San Jose State University men's golf
Visit Stockton Pacific Invite
Stockton Country Club, Stockton, Calif.
Par 71, 6,480 yards
18-hole results
Team scores
1. San Jose State 271
2. Brigham Young 275
3. San Francisco 278
4. Saint Mary's 280
5. Nevada 281
Long Beach State 281
Sacramento State 281
8. UC Santa Barbara 282
9. Pacific 284
South Dakota 284
11. Grand Canyon 286
UC Irvine 286
13. Cal Baptist 287
14. CSU Northridge 288
15. UC Riverside 293
16. Fresno State 300
Leading individuals
1. Kevin Velo, San Jose State 64
2. Peter Kuest, BYU 66
Ben Hicks, South Dakota (ind.) 66
San Jose State scores
9. Sean Yu 69
9. Ben Campbell 69
37. Matt Heitel 71
37. Bryce Wortman 71
37. Nate Jetter (ind.) 71
Ind. – playing as an individual entry