Colorado Springs, Colo.----- Caleb Shetler's best 18-hole in a San José State University golf uniform, a six-under 66, kept the Spartans in second place heading into the final round of the season-opening Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational men's golf tournament.
Shetler got to six under par in his round at the 13th hole and stayed there the rest of the way thanks to eagles on the 11th and 12th holes followed by a birdie on the par-3 13th hole. For the round, Shelter had two eagles, three birdies and a bogey. His previous best in relation to par was a four-under 68 in the final round of the 2019 Pacific Invitational in Stockton, Calif.
Shetler and Kristopher Stiles were the two Spartans under par for the second 18 holes in the 54-hole tournament on the par 72 Eisenhower Golf Club blue course. Shetler moved into a fifth place tie for medalist honors at 137. Stiles played bogey-free golf after back-to-back bogeys on the third and fourth holes to finish with a one-under par 71.
Freshman Zubair Firdaus struggled his last four holes, but managed to post a one-over 73. He was three-under through 13 holes.
Kotaro Murata's 73 was San Jose State final counting score in the five-player score four format.
BACK-TO-BACK SOLID TEAM SCORES
For the second day in a row, the Spartans had a five-under par team score for a 566 total and second place. UC Davis widened its lead over San Jose State to 15 strokes with a 272 for 18 holes and a 551 total. Denver at 568; Nevada, 570; and Wyoming at 571 complete the top five teams in the 21-team field.
"It's hard to stay 'up' for 54 holes. There is an ebb and flow that occurs. There is a little bit about t that occurs. We had a little bit later tee times today. We fought hard, hung in there and we'll be ready to go tomorrow (Sunday)," said San Jose State men's golf head coach John Kennaday.
UC Davis Thomas Hutchinson shot a bogey-free round of 10 birdies for a 10-under par 62 and 130 total. Blake Brothers of CSU Northridge and Greg Yellin of UTEP are tied for second at 135. Shetler tied with UC Davis' Mark Stephens at seven under par 135.
SRINIVASAN SHARES LEAD AT FALCON INVITATIONAL "OPEN"
The 54-hole team tournament concludes on Sunday, September 12 along with the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational individual tournament. First round leader Vijay Srinivasan of San Jose State posted a one-under par 71 for a 139 total and is tied for by Colorado's Jack Hughes who shot a 65, the low round of the Invitational individual tournament. Only four players in the 45-player field are under par.
Spartan freshman Nick Watts pushed his way into top ten with an even par 72 for a 145 total and a three-way tie in tenth place. Matt Heitel, who opened with a 69, slipped to an 80 and is tied for 19th place at 149.
36-hole results from the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational
Eisenhower Golf Club, Colorado Springs, Colo.
7,541 yards, par 72
| Team scores |
|
| 1. UC Davis |
551 |
| 2. San Jose State |
566 |
| 3. Denver |
568 |
| 4. Nevada |
570 |
| 5. Wyoming |
571 |
| 6. Colorado |
578 |
| 7. UTEP |
582 |
| Weber State |
582 |
| 9. Northern Colorado |
583 |
| 10. UNLV |
585 |
| 11. New Mexico State |
586 |
| 12. Utah Valley |
588 |
| 13. CSU Northridge |
591 |
| 14. George Washington |
596 |
| 15. Northern Iowa |
597 |
| Southern Illinois |
597 |
| 17. SIU Edwardsville |
598 |
| 18. Utah State |
599 |
| 19. Army West Point |
606 |
| 20. Air Force |
623 |
| 21. Southern Utah |
626 |
| Leading individuals |
|
| 1. Thomas Hutchinson, UC Davis |
68-62=130 |
| 2. Blake Brothers, CSU Northridge |
69-66=135 |
| Greg Yellin, UTEP |
67-68=135 |
| 4. Jackson Solem, Denver |
66-70=136 |
| 5. Mark Stephens, UC Davis |
72-65=137 |
| Caleb Shetler, San Jose State |
71-66=137 |
| Other San Jose State scores |
|
| 10. Kristopher Stiles |
71-71=142 |
| 22. Carl Corpus |
69-75=144 |
| 28. Zubair Firdaus |
72-73=145 |
| 46. Kotaro Murata |
75-73=148 |
| Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational Open |
|
| 1. Vijay Srinivasan, San Jose State |
68-71=139 |
| Jack Hughes, Colorado |
74-65=139 |
| 3. Jack Kozlowski, UNLV |
72-68=140 |
| 4. Connor Motherway, Nevada |
71-72=143 |
| 5. Patrick Azevedo, Wyoming |
70-74=144 |
| Cliff Thompson, George Washington |
70-74=144 |
| Other San Jose State scores |
|
| 7. Nick Watts |
73-72=145 |
| 19. Matt Heitel |
69-80=149 |
| 33. Luigi Wong |
78-77=155 |
| 41. R.J. Cesario |
80-80=160 |
