KINGSBURG, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's golf team is in fifth place after two rounds of the Nick Watney Invitational Monday at Kings River Golf & Country Club.
 
The Anteaters' 5-count-4 lineup combined for a 36-hole total of 568 (286-282). Their four-stroke improvement in the second round moved them up two spots on the leaderboard, passing Saint Mary's and Seattle U.
 
UCI is one of three Big West schools among the top-five as Long Beach State (547) closed out the afternoon with a six-stroke lead over Cal State Fullerton (553). LBSU's Ian Gilligan topped all players at 12-under 130 (66-64).
 
Redshirt freshman Jin Nakao paced the 'Eaters at 3-under 139 (T-11th). Nakao got out to a hot start, carding a collegiate-best 4-under 67 with six birdies through the first 18. He remained consistent in the second round where he shot a 1-over 72.
 
Junior Kolbe Irei is tied for 22nd at even-par 142 (73-69). Irei, who had seven birdies on the day, notched his fourth collegiate sub-70 score in the second round to jump 16 spots in the standings.
 
Freshman Andy Zou kicked off his collegiate career with back-to-back rounds of 1-over 72 to tie for 35th (144).
 
Junior Darien Zhao bounced back from a tough start as five second-round birdies propelled him up 30 spots into a tie for 49th. Zhao, who birdied three of his last four holes carded a 4-over 146 (77-69). Freshman Rei Harashima is also tied for 49th (74-72).
 
The final round of the Nick Watney Invitational will be contested tomorrow with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start.