By Derrick Ow — Reporter
For the 10th straight year, the San Jose State men’s golf team is playing at the Amer Ari Invitational in Waimea, Hawaii.
The Spartans are playing in their second tournament of the year but in vastly different conditions.
They started their season last week at the Southwestern Invitational in Westlake Village, Calif., and fought through gusty winds and rain to finish 11th last week in their first tournament in 10 months.
The Amer Ari Invitational usually includes 20 men’s golf programs from across the country competing at Hapuna Golf Club.
Because of COVID-19 regulations, there are only 8 teams competing this week on the Big Island. Defending champion Pepperdine University had to withdraw this week due to a member of the team testing positive for COVID-19
For updates, keep reading The Spear over the duration of the tournament.
For the 10th straight year, the San Jose State men’s golf team is playing at the Amer Ari Invitational in Waimea, Hawaii.
The Spartans are playing in their second tournament of the year but, “in vastly different conditions”.
They started their season last week at the Southwestern Invitational in Westlake Village, Calif., and fought through gusty winds and rain to finish 11th last week in their first tournament in 10 months.
The Amer Ari Invitational usually includes 20 men’s golf programs from across the country competing at Hapuna Golf Club.
Because of COVID-19 regulations, there are only eight teams competing this week on the Big Island. Defending champion Pepperdine had to withdraw this week due to a member of the team testing positive for COVID-19.
For updates, keep reading The Spear over the duration of the tournament.
Final Round
San Jose State earned their first top five finish of the season in Hawaii.
The Spartans finished the Amer Ari Invitational at 6 over par but were 43 shots behind Arizona State, who would win their third Invitational title in program history.
The traditional Hawaiian trade winds picked up at Hapuna Golf Course. Sean Yu finished his stellar play with a 2-under-par 70 to finish at 7 under par which was good enough for a tie for fifth
Yu was one of six players this week to finish all three rounds under par. The senior’s scorecard included an eagle on the par five 11th hole. This was Yu’s sixth top-five finish of his college career.
His teammates experienced difficulty with those trade winds. Caleb Shelter had a crushing triple bogey on the par-4 7th hole. The freshman shot an even par 72 to finish at 4 over par for the tournament which tied for 23rd.
Carl Corpus’s round played like a winding road on the Big Island. The freshman had four birdies on his scorecard, as well as a quadruple bogey on the 9th hole. He would finish at 6 over par which was a tie for 26th place.
Fellow freshman Kris Stiles shot a final round 77 to finish at 7 over par which was good enough for a share of 29th place. Senior Nate Jetter had an eagle and a quadruple bogey on his scorecard. He finished at 12 over par which tied for 35th.
Junior Bryce Wortman had a much needed bounce back round, shooting a 1-under 71 after his second round 81. He finished in a tie for 35th in his second straight tournament playing as an individual.
Arizona State sophomore David Puig is proving to be a force to be reckoned with in college golf. Puig won his second straight individual title as he shot a 4-under-par 68, that included four consecutive birdies from holes 14 through 17.
He would finish at 13 under par which was four clear of teammate Blake Wagoner and USC’s Sixian Guo.
ASU ran away with the team competition as they finished at 37 under, eight clear of the Trojans.
The Spartans will get a month off to play more practice rounds together before playing in the Lamkin San Diego Classic on Mar. 8 and 9.
Day 2
San Jose State could not find their rhythm on the course in Hawaii.
The Spartans finished the second round of the Amer Ari Invitational at even par which puts them in fifth place.
Sean Yu was one of the few bright spots for SJSU. The senior played a soild round shooting a 1-under-par 71 to remain tied for 5th at 5 under par.
Two Spartan Freshman had slimar days during the second round. Carl Corpus slipped down the leaderboard with a roller coaster round. He made an eagle on the par 5 8th hole. He would add two birdies but had three bogeys and two double bogeys on the scorecard. He is currently tied for 18th place at 2 over par.
Kris Stiles shot an even par 72 to stay at 2-over-par. He had two birdies and two bogeys on the scorecard.
Caleb Shelter shot his second straight round of 74. He is at 4 over par for the Invitational which is currently a tie for 23rd place.
Nate Jetter had a better time at Hapuna Golf Course. The senior rebounded with an even par 72 which eight shots better than his opening round 80. He remains at 8 over par which is a tie for 32nd place.
Bryce Wortman was not experiencing the same island vibes as his teammates. Wortman who is playing as an individual this week, shot a 9-over 81. Wortman is in a tie for 42nd place at 13 over par.
Arizona State continues to prove why they are National Championship contenders. The Sun Devils are on top of both the individual and team leaderboards.
ASU shot a combined 13-under-par 275. They are in firm control with an eight shot lead as they are at 26 under par. USC sits in second at 18 under par.
Sun Devils graduate student Blake Wagoner remains the leader on the Big Island. He could not get putts to drop, but shot a 1-under-par 71. He is at 10 under par but saw his lead cut down to one. His teammate David Puig shot a 4-under-par 68 to sit at 9 under par. Puig is looking to go back-to-back after winning the Southwestern Invitational last week.
The Spartans will look to try and get a top four finish tomorrow. Their final round tee time is at 11 a.m. PST.
Day 1
The Spartans enjoyed their first round in paradise.
SJSU finished the first round at 1-under-par which put them in fifth place.
Senior Sean Yu seemed to find his form after a disappointing Southwest Invitational last week. Yu shot a 4-under-par 68 to put himself in a T-7 in the individual competition. He had six birdies on the front nine and is chasing his second career collegiate win.
Freshman Carl Corpus shot a 1-under-par 71. He is currently tied for 17th place.
Freshman Caleb Shelter had a roller coaster afternoon. Shelter was one under through 16 holes but bogeyed the 17th and double bogeyed the 18th hole. He shot a 2-over-par 74. Fellow freshman Kris Stiles also shot a 74 as both Spartans are tied for 29th place.
Senior Nate Jetter enjoyed the views but not the round. He would shoot an 8-over-par 80 and is in a tie for 46th. The good news is his score will not count in the team total since only the four best scores count for SJSU during this week.
Junior Bryce Wortman is playing his second straight event as an individual. Wortman shot a 4-over-par 76. He is tied for 36th place.
The day belonged to both Georgia Tech and Arizona State. The Yellow Jackets and Sun Devils traded the lead in the team competition.
The Yellow Jackets finished the day with a combined score of 14-under-par 274 which was one stroke ahead of ASU.
Sun Devils senior Blake Wagoner played the round of his life. He shot a 9-under-par 63 which included birdieing six of the seven opening holes. He has the overnight lead over Noah Woolsey of Washington. Woolsey shot a 6-under-par 66.
The Spartans tee off tomorrow at 11:36 a.m. PST.
Follow Derrick on Twitter @derrickq42