Picture courtesy of Catharyn Hayne/KLC Fotos
Freshmen Eric Lee and Ethan Fang were California’s low golfers in the opening round of the 77th Western Intercollegiate at Pasatiempo Golf Club on Monday, shooting 1-under-par 69 and even-par 70, respectively.
The Golden Bears withstood a slow start that included four double bogeys on the first nine holes on the way to finishing tied for fourth place at 6-over-par (356) after 18 holes played. Four Cal players shot even par or better on the back nine, led by Lee, who carded three birdies across his final seven holes and is tied for 12th individually. Fang, who got back to even par with a birdie on hole 18, is close behind Lee in a tie for 16th. Sampson Zheng (+1) finished tied for 22nd after birdies on 16 and 18 to close his day.
Cal trails leader Arizona (-2) by eight shots but is just two behind Stanford (+4) for second place. The Bears are tied with Oregon (+6) for fourth place and sit one shot behind third-place Washington (+5), which they will play alongside in round two.