SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — TK Chantananuwat and Ethan Gao combined for 12 birdies on the day as the Stanford men’s golf team completed the first round of competition at the 78th Western Intercollegiate on Monday. Stanford finished the round 5-under for the day and in a tie for second place through 18 holes.
Chantananuwat got the birdie train off and rolling immediately during Monday’s first round, earning his first of six birdies on a par-4 hole one. Following a bogey on hole three, Chantananuwat raddled off three-consecutive birdies - including one a par-five hole six - shooting a 32 through the front nine. The freshman continued his torrid round with two birdies along the back nine including on hole 18, finishing the day at 4-under and in a tie for third place.
Gao was clinical through the front nine in the early morning slot, firing off a 4-under, 31. Gao, who reached as low as 5-under for the morning through 11 holes, had some trouble finishing off the round, bogeying on four of his next five holes before ending the round strong, earning his sixth birdie on hole 17 before a par on 18 capped his day off at 2-under and in 10th place.
Nathan Wang and Logan Kim finished on opposite ends of the even-line through the first 18 holes as Wang snagged a 1-under outing while Kim finished 1-over. Wang, who entered the back nine at 2-under for the day, battled through three bogeys in the final nine holes with two birdies on holes 13 and 15 to take the 1-under finish for the day. Kim, however, entered the back nine at 1-over and finished the day in the same vein courtesy of a birdie on hole 17.
Jay Leng also had a strong day for the Cardinal, earning a 1-over card with birdies on his final hole on both the front- and back-nine. Dean Greyserman also shot well during the back nine after a tough initial stretch to begin the round, clawing back to finish the round at 4-over.
Stanford is back in action for the second round at Pasatiempo Golf Club tomorrow, April 15, teeing off from hole 1 at 12:24 p.m.