One constant factor about golf is inconsistency; every spherical of golf options totally different methods, pin positions and even mentalities. For San Diego State men’s golf, modifications in course setup and taking part in circumstances from spherical to spherical hindered the crew’s efficiency at the R.E. Lamkin Invitational at San Diego Country Club (SDCC) on March 9 and 10.
Typically, when a university golf program hosts a match, they’ve a slight benefit over the remainder of the sector. However, as a result of the co-hosting Aztecs haven’t performed at SDCC since final yr’s R.E. Lamkin Invitational and the match’s different co-host, the University of San Diego, arrange the course, the added benefit of internet hosting was nearly nonexistent. Coincidentally, USD went on to win the match; setting tee packing containers and pins clearly offered a large edge.
SDSU men’s golf has not had its membership at SDCC for the reason that 2024 Lamkin Invitational, forcing the extra skilled Aztecs to steer the cost, each on the course and in their data. Senior co-captains Tyler Kowack and Chanachon Chokprajakchat had the highlight on all of them match lengthy.
Chokprajakchat stepped as much as the plate, ending beneath par in all three rounds and putting second in par-4 scoring. His 9-under whole rating was ok for a third-place finish.
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Unfortunately for Kowack, he didn’t match his fellow co-captain’s efficiency. Despite a 1-under opening spherical, back-to-back rounds of 3-over and 2-over, respectively, hindered the skilled senior’s last faculty match at SDCC.
“[The course] got firmer as the week went on,” Kowack defined. “It is my fourth year here, so I knew that was going to be the case; [my] execution was not there. It got firmer, greens were fast and the pins were tucked, per usual, but we expected that.”
Like Kowack, the remainder of the Aztecs have been capable of capitalize on the primary spherical’s tame circumstances, firing their lowest crew rating for the match in the opening spherical. The Aztecs mixed for a 9-under first-round whole rating, putting them in second place because the morning wave commenced.
However, as Kowack stated, SDCC firmed up, and the pins acquired more and more troublesome, halting the Aztecs’ preliminary success. Head coach Ryan Donovan touched on quite a lot of causes as to why his squad limped its approach house, together with the significance of being in the green off the tee.
“The rough was definitely spongy and [it was] hard to dictate how the shots were going to come out,” Donovan stated. “I think the biggest thing for us was hitting fairways, and we just missed some fairways in spots where you need to play your approach shot from the fairway.”
Donovan additionally spoke about his crew’s incapability to make the most of SDCC’s par-5 scoring alternatives constantly. SDSU completed seventh in par-5 scoring for the match, 15 photographs behind St. Mary’s College, which led the Lamkin Invitational in par-5 scoring at 29-under-par.
Both Kowack and Donovan additionally acknowledged the significance of ball putting, particularly at SDCC. Golfers who’ve success across the course should go away themselves good angles into greens due to the undulation and difficult lies one can discover themselves in.
“I think [the course] favors a smart golfer, someone who can control their ball flight,” Kowack acknowledged. “There are some tough pins. I think someone that is very disciplined and can execute those approach shots will see success out here.”
In his first collegiate match at SDCC, Aztecs sophomore and California switch Kai Hirayama had the second-best match finish for his crew, carding a 4-under-par last rating. Excellent driving and exact ball putting served Hirayama effectively as he maneuvered his approach by way of SDCC.
“I feel like he is a ball-striker, and that is a golf course that benefits ball striking,” Donovan stated. “He is kind of a gamer at this point. I am excited to see how good he can actually get. He’s trending in the right direction and is just a great guy for our team right now.”
A fifth-place, 13-under-par crew finish for SDSU in its solely house match of the season was not supreme in the slightest, however the robust play from Chokprajakchat and Hirayama is one thing to construct upon.
The Aztecs have a fast turnaround as they head north to Pauma Valley Country Club, one other course that Donovan described as a ball-striker’s golf course. The Pauma Valley Invitational is a three-day match, starting on Monday.
