USAFA, Colo. — Building off a podium finish at the Marquette Intercollegiate just days earlier, senior
Thomas Hutchison fired an opening round 68 to finish fourth after Friday's first 18 holes, while all five UC Davis golfers finished among the top 25 as the Aggies lead the field by four shots after the first round of the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational at the Eisenhower Golf Course.
UC Davis tied its season low round with a 9-under 279 as a team on Friday, leading Bay Area rival San Jose State by four shots and third-place Denver by seven. Those three schools were the only three to finish under par in Friday's first round.
Individually, Hutchison and his 4-under Friday score is just two shots off the pace of day one leader Jackson Solem of the Pioneers, who shot an opening round 66. Starting on the front, Hutchison carded three birdies on both the front and back nines, working around two bogeys en route to his final score.
He is only one stroke ahead of his teammate
Jacob Westberg, who sits in a four-way tie for fifth at 3-under following an opening round 69 thanks to five birdies, while sophomore
Lucas Carper is in ninth at 2-under following his first-round 70, a score that included an eagle three on the par-five fifth.
Sophomore
Mark Stephens, who tied Hutchison for team-high honors with six birdies on the day, is one of 11 players tied for 14th at even-par, while sophomore
Alejandro Nava is in an eight-way tie for 25th at 1-over.
Competing as individuals on the Eisenhower Silver Course, junior
Shane Muldowney is tied for seventh in the individual event with an even-par 72, standing four shots off the lead of San Jose State's Vijay Srinivasan. Freshman
Chad Cliff, making his collegiate debut, is one shot behind his teammate, standing in a tie for 12th following a 1-over 73.
The Aggies look to continue their roll in round two, teeing off alongside Wyoming, New Mexico State, and Colorado, beginning at 7:30 a.m. PT. Updates for both the main and individual events can be found on GolfStat.com.
GENE MIRANDA FALCON INVITATIONAL
Eisenhower Blue Golf Course (USAFA, Colo.)
Par 72 • 7,541 Yards
TEAM SCORES (after 18 holes)
1. UC DAVIS, 279 (-9)
2. San Jose State, 283 (-5)
3. Denver, 286 (-2)
4. Wyoming, 289 (+1)
5. Nevada, 290 (+2)
t6. Northern Colorado, 291 (+3)
t6. UTEP, 291 (+3)
t8. Utah Valley, 294 (+6)
t8. UNLV, 294 (+6)
10. Colorado, 297 (+9)
11. CSUN, 298 (+10)
12. Weber State, 299 (+11)
13. New Mexico State, 300 (+12)
t14. George Washington, 303 (+15)
t14. Northern Iowa, 303 (+15)
16. SIUE, 304 (+16)
17. Southern Illinois, 306 (+18)
18. Utah State, 307 (+19)
19. Army West Point, 309 (+21)
20. Air Force, 312 (+24)
21. Southern Utah, 318 (+30)
INDIVIDUAL SCORES (after 18 holes)
(Leaders plus UC Davis scores)
1. Jackson Solem, Denver, 66 (-6)
4.
Thomas Hutchison, UC Davis, 68 (-4)
t5.
Jacob Westberg, UC Davis, 69 (-3)
9.
Lucas Carper, UC Davis, 70 (-2)
t14.
Mark Stephens, UC Davis, 72 (E)
t25.
Alejandro Nava, UC Davis, 73 (+1)
GENE MIRANDA FALCON INVITATIONAL INDIVIDUAL TOURNAMENT
Eisenhower Silver Golf Course (USAFA, Colo.)
Par 72 • 6,510 Yards
INDIVIDUAL SCORES (after 18 holes)
(Leaders plus UC Davis scores)
1. Vijay Srinivasan, San Jose State, 68 (-4)
t7.
Shane Muldowney, UC Davis, 72 (E)
t12.
Chad Cliff, UC Davis, 73 (+1)
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Centrally located between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe, over 700 student-athletes across 25 teams enjoy an unrivaled undergraduate experience at the fifth-ranked public school in the country.
Ranked annually in the nation's top 10 in diversity and students' social mobility, UC Davis and its innovative Aggie EVO System helps student-athletes develop passions, connect with a comprehensive network of alums and industry leaders, gain real-world experience and thrive as a young professional following a successful launch to full-time employment or graduate school.
