FAIRFAX, California -- Senior Ryan Han posted season-best rounds of 68 and 66 to pull into the individual top five, leading UC Davis at the Alister MacKenzie Invitational men's collegiate golf tournament at the Meadow Club Monday. The Aggies also moved into a tie for fifth place in the team standings, compiling an 11-under 270 total in the second round as part of their 555-stroke total.
Han's previous 2018-19 best was a 69, set at the Falcon Invite and Windon Memorial in September. The defending Big West Conference champion drained an eagle 3 on the 15th to finish his first round Monday, then birdied four of his six holes to start his second round. Han's second-round 66 ties his collegiate-best round to par, matching the 5-under 67 scored at each of last year's Big West and NCAA Stockton Region championships.
Overall, Han's 13 combined birdies in the two rounds ranks second in the tournament.
Sophomore Thomas Hutchison and freshman Daniel Kim each share 17th place on the individual leaderboard with their 4-under 138 totals. Hutchison, the Big West Conference's Player of the Month for September, opened Monday with a 68, then followed with a 70. Meanwhile, Kim had almost the opposite day: an even-par 71 in the first round, followed by a season-best 67 in the second.
Senior Tanner Hughes and freshman Natheethorn Teacharuangchit each struggled to rounds of 78 to kick off the first day at the par-71, 6,734-yard course; but enjoyed significant rebounds in the second time around. Hughes eagled the 543-yard 13th then sank a birdie 2 on the 14th to cap a 4-under 67. Teacharuangchit, making his collegiate debut, carded an even-par 72 in his second tour of the course Monday evening.
Host California, which has won 11 of the 16 previous editions of the tourney, leads the team race with a 532-stroke total. The Golden Bears shot a 26-under 258 in the first round, then followed with a 10-under 274 during the second set of 18 holes. They hold a six-stroke lead on Pepperdine, while San Jose State is 15 strokes back at 547. Cal's Collin Morikawa led the individual standings with scores of 65 and 64 on Monday, giving him a one-stroke edge on teammate Sebastian Crampton.
The Alister MacKenzie Invitational, named after the legendary course architect, concludes with a single final round on Tuesday. The Aggies will open the day with a 7:50 tee time on 1, and are grouped with San Francisco and Saint Mary's.
ALISTER MACKENZIE INVITATIONAL
The Meadow Club (Par 71 • 6,734 yards)
TEAM SCORES (36 holes)
1. California, 258-274—532
2. Pepperdine, 270-268—538
3. San Jose State, 269-278—547
4. Arizona State, 280-273—553
t5. San Francisco, 280-275—555
t5. UC Davis, 285-270—555
7. Saint Mary's, 285-271—556
8. San Diego State, 287-272—559
9. Santa Clara, 288-276—564
10. Oregon State, 290-275—565
11. Long Beach State, 288-279—DQ
12. Augusta, 295-273—568
13. Fresno State, 290-280—570
14. Hawaii, 299-281—580
15. San Diego, 298-289—587
INDIVIDUALS (36 holes)
Leader plus UC Davis competitors
1. Collin Morikawa, Cal, 65-64—129
t5. Ryan Han, 68-66—134
t17. Thomas Hutchison, 68-70—138
t17. Daniel Kim, 71-67—138
t53. Tanner Hughes, 78-67—145
75. Natheethorn Teacharuangchit, 78-72—150
DON'T MISS OUT!: The ninth-annual UC Davis Athletics Brewfest takes place as part of the October 13 Homecoming football game against Idaho State... Tickets for the Brewfest plus the Aggies-Bengals game are now on sale at https://bit.ly/2ooveDI... The Brewfest celebrates UC Davis as the No. 1 academic brewing program in North America... The ticket package includes unlimited tastings at the UC Davis Brewfest, a commemorative tasting mug, and a ticket to the game.
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