Course setup slows Aztecs men’s golf in fifth-place finish at Lamkin Invitational – The Daily Aztec
One constant factor about golf is inconsistency; Each spherical of golf options totally different methods, pin positions and even mentalities. For San Diego State men’s golf, adjustments in course setup and taking part in circumstances from spherical to spherical hindered the workforce’s efficiency at the RE 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 RE 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 an enormous edge.
SDSU men’s golf has not had its membership at SDCC because the 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 adequate 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 school match at SDCC.
“[The course] got firmer as the week went on,” Kowack explained. “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 in a position to capitalize on the primary spherical’s tame circumstances, firing their lowest workforce 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 started.
However, as Kowack stated, SDCC signed up, and the pins obtained more and more tough, halting the Aztecs’ preliminary success. Head coach Ryan Donovan touched on a wide range of causes as to why his squad limped its approach residence, 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 workforce’s incapacity to benefit from SDCC’s par-5 scoring alternatives persistently. SDSU completed seventh in par-5 scoring for the match, 15 pictures 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 hanging, 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] “Pleases a smart golfer, someone who can control their ball flight,” Kowack said. “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 workforce, carding a 4-under-par last rating. Excellent driving and exact ball hanging served Hirayama nicely as he maneuvered his approach via 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 workforce finish for SDSU in its solely residence match of the season was not very best in the slightest, however the sturdy 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.
