STOCKTON, Calif. - Redshirt freshman Jin Nakao fired a 6-under 65 to tie for the lead after the opening round of the Visit Stockton Invitational Thursday at the Stockton Golf & Country Club.
 
Nakao produced a clean scorecard with no bogeys and six birdies, four of which came on the back nine. His 65 is tied for sixth in program history and is the best 18-hole score by an Anteater since David Kim in 2017. It was Nakao's second sub-70 round of the young season as he beat his previous low of 4-under 67 at the Nick Watney Invitational on Sept. 26.
 
Freshman Rei Harashima and junior Darien Zhao also came in below par. Harashima is currently tied for 16th at 2-under 69, while Zhao is tied for 27th at 1-under 70.
 
Junior Kolbe Irei (74) and freshman Andy Zou (75) rounded out UCI's 5-count-4 lineup.
 
As a team, the 'Eaters registered a 278 to sit in a tie for seventh. Grand Canyon paced the field at 11-under 273.
 
The teams return to the course Friday for the second round of the Visit Stockton Invitational. UC Irvine's tee times will start at 7:45 a.m.