LA JOLLA, Calif. - UC Irvine men's golf saw a 14-stroke improvement in the second round of the UC San Diego Invitational to move into the top-eight Monday at Torrey Pines Golf Course.
 
With four active players in their lineup, the Anteaters combined for a 3-over 291, and sit in seventh with a 36-hole score of 596 (305-291).
 
North Dakota State created some separation from the rest of the pack as it sits alone in first at 1-over par (577). Idaho is five strokes back in second, while Yale (583) and Oklahoma State (584) round out the top four.
 
Senior Darien Zhao fired a 3-under 69 to jump 35 spots into a tie for 12th. He had four birdies over the first nine holes before coming in at par in each of his last nine. It was his sixth sub-70 score of the season. Zhao owns a two-round total of 146 (+2).  
 
Sophomore Rei Harashima also carded an even-par 72 with five birdies. He is tied for 27th with a 36-hole score of 148 (76-72).
 
Sophomore Jin Nakao had a steady round with two birdies and 15 pars for a 72. He climbed 14 spots into a tie for 33rd at 5-over 149 (77-72).
 
Freshman Jason Tang dropped into a tie for 62nd at 153 (75-78).
 
Jack Johnson of North Dakota State and Johannes Hounsgaard of Idaho are tied for first on the individual leaderboard at 3-under 141.
 
The 'Eaters return to Torrey Pines Golf Course tomorrow morning for the final round of the UC San Diego Invitational. Play will get underway with a 7 a.m. shotgun start.