By Diana Ly, SDA Media Relations Student Assistant
The Sun Devil men's golf team currently sits in the lead with UNLV at the Thunderbird Invitational held at Karsten Golf Course after day one and 36 holes. The team shot 18-under on the par-71 course.
Over the last 25 years I've had many days at @ASUKarsten Today was one it's best. Firm and fast. Great teams battling. Many fans and volunteers. Softball game rocking over the fence. Beautiful sunset. Perfect temps. There is no more "collegiate" venue in all of college golf.
— Matt Thurmond (@MattThurmond) April 15, 2018
ROUND ONE
Sophomore Chun An Yu led the Devils with seven birdies and shot 5-under on the day. Freshman Mason Andersen and sophomore Blake Wagoner both had solid days on the course with 2-under 69. Andersen had three birdies, while Wagoner birded five.
Despite a bogey on hole 10, Honolulu native Jino Sohn also had a solid day with 1-over 72. Freshman Koichiro Ishika, turned in a 71 with shots even on holes 1-2 and 10. Arizona's David Laskin led round 1 with a 7-under 64.
ROUND TWOSo great to see Coach Loy and @missymkaye today supporting the squad. pic.twitter.com/yQZ4m71Gqy
— Sun Devil Men's Golf (@sundevilmgolf) April 15, 2018
Wagoner and Andersen both had solid rounds in the afternoon with 2-under 69. Andersen had three birdies, while Wagoner birded five. After coming out strong in round one, An Yu finished off the day with 2-over par.. Sohn improved in the second round, placing ninth overall with 25 pars and recording 2-under 69. He currently is tied for ninth with teammate. Andersen had a solid day leading the tournament in pars with 30 and scored even with a 71. Overall, he sits in 15th with teammate Koichiro Ishikra, who showed improvement in the second round with a 3-under 69 performance and six birdies.
UNLV's Shintaro Ban (No. 30) and Colorado's Yannik Paul both lead the field after the first day of the tournament. Both scored a nine under 133.
The Sun Devils tee off round three at 7 a.m. for the final round of the Thunderbird Invitational on Sunday.
THUNDERBIRD INVITATIONAL
KARSTEN GOLF COURSE (PAR 71/7,032 YARDS)
TEMPE, ARIZ./APRIL 14-15, 2018
T1. No. 25 Arizona State 274-276=550/-18
T1. No. 27 UNLV 276-274=550/-18
3. No. 3 Oklahoma 282-271=553/-15
4. No. 11 Baylor 276-281=557/-11
5. No. 32 Arizona 278-284=562/-6
INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION/SUN DEVIL SCORES
T1. Shintaro Ban, UNLV 69-64=133/-9
T1. Yannik Paul, Colorado 67-66=133/-9
T6. Blake Wagoner 69-68=137/-5
T9. Chun An Yu 66-73=139/-3
T9. Jino Sohn 70-69=139/-3
T15. Mason Andersen 69-71=140/-2
T15. Koichiro Ishika 72-68=140/-2