KAPOLEI, O'ahu - The UC Irvine men's golf team recorded its best round of the season at 16-under on the first day of the Kapolei Invitational at Kapolei Golf Club.
 
The Anteaters combined for a 5-count-4 total of 272 (-16) in Tuesday's opening round. They are tied for fourth with Augusta University in a 19-team field, and are only four strokes back of the lead. No. 53 Florida Gulf Coast holds the early advantage at 20-under 268, and is followed by No. 23 Baylor (269) and Texas State (271).
 
UCI's 16-under is tied for the third-best round to par in program history.
 
Freshman Jason Tang led the charge, carding a 7-under 65 to sit in a tie for first with Riley Lewis of Loyola Marymount. Tang had eight birdies for his third sub-70 score of the season.
 
Senior Darien Zhao and sophomore Yaoting Zou are also among the top-20 (T-17th) after coming in at 4-under 68. Both were consistent throughout the day with five and six birdies, respectively. It was an 18-hole season best for Zou, while it was also Zhao's third round in the 60s this fall.
 
Sophomore Jin Nakao (71) is tied for 49th, and classmate Rei Harashima rounds out the UCI lineup in a tie for 67th at even-par 72.
 
UC Irvine returns to Kapolei Golf Club for the second round of the Kapolei Invitational on Wednesday. The 'Eaters are paired with FGCU, Baylor and Texas State, and will tee off from the first hole starting at 11 a.m. (PDT).