SDSU MEN'S GOLF IN NINTH AT NCAA NORMAN REGIONAL

Aztec senior Blake Abercrombie tied for10th individually

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo:  Steve Sugimoto carded the Aztecs' low round on Tuesday with a 71 at the NCAA Norman Regional.  Courtesy goaztecs.com

May 15, 2018 (Norman, Okla.) - The San Diego State men’s golf team slipped four places into the ninth position at the NCAA Norman Regional after posting a combined 2-over-par 290 on Tuesday during the second round at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club.

With their performance, the Aztecs, who find themselves at 4-over 580 for the tournament, remain seven shots behind Brigham Young and Auburn, which are tied fourth place at 3-under 573. The top five teams out of the Norman Regional will advance to the NCAA championship series, scheduled for May 25-30 in Stillwater, Okla.

Also lurking near the cut-line is Florida State (+1), which held on to sixth despite shooting a 4-under 284, while Virginia (+2) occupies the seventh position, one stroke ahead of Nevada (+3) on the par-72, 7,452-yard course layout.

Host Oklahoma (-9) maintains its lofty perch in the standings with a two-shot advantage over hard-charging Pepperdine (-7), which vaulted seven places into the second spot thanks to a collective 14-under 274 on Tuesday, while North Florida (-5) sits alone in third.

Individually, SDSU’s Blake Abercrombie is tied for 10th at 2-under 142 thanks to a second-round 72. Starting on the 10th tee, the Aztec senior offset two bogeys with birdies at the par-4, 425-yard 16th and the par-5, 627-yard No. 5, before closing with four consecutive pars.

With his effort, Abercrombie remains six shots behind Oklahoma’s Blaine Hale (-8), who owns a slim one-shot margin over Brigham Young’s Patrick Fishburn (-7), while Pepperdine’s Joshua McCarthy and Sahith Theegala are tied for third at 5-under, along with Trace Crowe of Auburn.

In addition, fellow classmate PJ Samiere (Kailua, Hawaii) carded a 74 to finish the day in a tie for 26th at 1-over 145. The two-time all-Mountain West honoree matched Abercrombie with two birdies to counter a pair of bogeys as well. However, a double bogey on the par-4, 472 No. 1 precipitated a drop of 14 places on the leaderboard.

Conversely, freshman Steve Sugimoto (San Diego, Calif.) climbed seven spots into a tie for 29th at 2-over 146 after firing the Aztecs’ low round of the day with a 71. The Rancho Bernardo High product was a model of consistency throughout, collecting 15 pars to go with consecutive birdies at the par-5, 594-yard No. 13 and the par-4, 443-yard No. 14, with the latter ranking as the sixth-toughest hole of the week.

Puwit Anupansuebsai (Nakhon Phanom, Thailand) also made a modest gain in the standings, moving up two places into a tie for 49th at 5-over 147 after firing a second-round 73. The Aztec freshman eased the sting of three bogeys with consecutive birdies on the par-4, 447-yard No. 4 and the aforementioned No. 5.

Anupansuebsai was the lone SDSU player to complete his round before passing thunderstorms caused a lengthy delay shortly after 1 p.m. CT on Tued=sdat

Rounding out the Aztec delegation was Trevor Norby (Carlsbad, Calif.), who ended the day in a tie for 59th at 7-over 151 after logging a 77. The SDSU redshirt sophomore made birdies at No. 14 and the par-5 18th to go with a string of seven straight pars after the turn. However, two prior double bogeys on the 16th and 17th greens ultimately sandbagged his round.

The NCAA Norman Regional concludes on Wednesday when San Diego State tees off alongside Virginia and Nevada starting at 8:25 a.m. CT/6:25 a.m. PT on hole No. 1.

2018 Norman Regional

Round Two Results

Jimmie Austin OU G.C.

Norman, Okla.

Par 72, 7,452 yards

Team Scores

1. Oklahoma                                      283-284—567 (-9)

T2. Pepperdine                                  295-274—569 (-7)

T2. North Florida                               288-283—571 (-5)

T4. Auburn                                         288-285—573 (-3)

T4. Brigham Young                           295-278—573 (-3)

6. Florida State                                  293-284—577 (+1)

7. Virginia                                          297-281—578 (+2)

8. Nevada                                           294-285—579 (+6)

9. San Diego State                           290-290—580 (+4)

10. Arkansas                                     288-293—581 (+5)

T11. Sam Houston State                   301-289—590 (+14)

T11. UMKC                                         293-297—590 (+14)

13. Navy                                            323-302—625 (+49)

14. Prairie View A&M                       315-316—631 (+55)

Individual Leaders (Top 5 of 75 players + SDSU)   

1. Blaine Hale, Oklahoma                                    67-69—136 (-8)

2. Patrick Fishburn, Brigham Young                   71-66—137 (-7)

T3. Joshua McCarthy, Pepperdine                       74-65—139 (-5)

T3. Sahith Theegala, Pepperdine                         73-66—139 (-5)

T3. Trace Crowe, Auburn                                      70-69—139 (-5)

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T10. Blake Abercrombie, SDSU              70-72—142 (-2)

T25. PJ Samiere, SDSU                          71-74—145 (+1)

T29. Steve Sugimoto, SDSU                   75-71—146 (+2)

T49. Puwit Anupansuebsai, SDSU          76-73—149 (+5)

T59. Trevor Norby, SDSU                      74-77—151 (+7)

Day two results