Day 1 Results

MADERA, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's golf team wrapped up the first two rounds of the Nick Watney Invitational in a tie for fifth Monday at Dragonfly Golf Club.
 
The Anteaters combined for a 36-hole score of 578 (288-290). They are four strokes back of Seattle and seven back of third-place UC Santa Barbara. Nevada leads the 12-team field at 552, while BYU is second at 563.
 
Junior Ramiz Jamal paced the 'Eaters as he is tied for seventh at 4-under 140 (72-68). Jamal opened with an even-par 72, before carding a career-best 68 to jump 12 spots in the standings. He had five of his team-best nine birdies on the back nine of his second round.
 
Junior Anthony Truong also shot a second-round 70 (-2), which helped him climb into a tie for 24th. Truong, who had six birdies and UCI's only eagle of the afternoon, posted a 36-hole score of 145 (75-70).
 
Freshman Nathan Irwin is tied for 32nd (146). In his collegiate debut, Irwin worked through some early jitters as he bogeyed three of his first four holes, but quickly settled in and went 5-under over the next 14. He had a stretch of four consecutive birdies to record a first-round 70.
 
Freshman Matt Gunson tied for 40th as he registered a two-round score of 148 (72-76). Gunson carded a 72 through the first 18 where he was at or below par the entire round. Junior Jonathan Kang is also tied for 47th at 150 (74-76).
 
Joey Vrzich of Nevada is alone at the top of the leaderboard with a score of 132 (66-66).
 
The Anteaters' young lineup, which features three juniors and two freshmen, showed its potential with four players notching at least one round at or below par. UC Irvine looks to finish strong on Tuesday with the final round of the Nick Watney Invitational slated for an 8 a.m. shotgun start.