Rhett Rasmussen
(Twitter Photo)
STOCKTON, CA (October 28, 2016) -- With a 7-under second round BYU has reached 9-under and moved into the Pacific Invitational lead at Stockton Country Club. BYU holds a seven-stroke lead over second place Seattle (-2) and an eight-stroke lead over defending champions Sacramento State (-1).
For the second straight day the Cougars were paced by co-medalist leader Rhett Rasmussen. At 6-under, Rasmussen has put together rounds of 67-69 and on Friday he rolled in five birdies while bogeying three-times. The freshman was 1-over for his round through 11-holes before he catching fire and carding four birdies from Nos. 12-16. Rasmussen moved to 7-under with his 16th hole birdie and then gave a shot back on his final hole of the day.
BYU has two other players in the top-20; junior Patrick Fishburn, the winner of the 2016 Utah State Amateur is in a third place tie at 4-under while sophomore Spencer Dunaway is tied for 16th at 1-over.
"The guys played pretty solid today," BYU head coach Bruce Brockbank said. "They played well on the back nine and made quite a few birdies to shoot seven-under-par and get out in front. The biggest thing was that both Fishburn and Rasmussen played consistent and shot 69's. It was really nice to watch the guys hang in and play a pretty good round."
For the second straight day Rasmussen is tied for the individual lead with Sacramento State senior Aaron Beverly. Through 36-holes Rasmussen has birdied eight holes and bogeyed just twice. During his second round 2-under 69, the reigning Big Sky Conference Golfer of the Year was even until the 12th hole when he tallied the first of his three birdies in four holes. The only thing that kept Beverly from a bogey-free round was a bogey on No. 18.
Tied for third in the individual race with Fishburn is Boise State's Brian Humphreys while five others are 3-under and tied for fifth.
The top-five of the team standings is rounded out by Boise State (E) in fourth and Grand Canyon (+4) in fifth.
The final round of the Pacific Invitational will be contested on Saturday.
-BYU Athletics contributed to this story
ROUND ONE RECAP
With a 6-under first round defending champion Sacramento State has jumped into the early lead at the Pacific Invitational. One of just two teams under-par, the Hornets will carry a four-stroke lead into the second round over 2-under BYU at Stockton Country Club.
Pacing Sacramento State is co-individual leader Aaron Beverly. The senior fired a first day 4-under 67 that included five birdies and a bogey. For Beverly, the Big Sky Conference Golfer of the Year last season, all of his circles came in an eight hole span.
Senior Robert Parden and freshman Devyn Fitchhorn turned in 1-over 70's as they sit in a tie for 11th while in a 19th place tie it is sophomore Wonje Choi at even-par.
Tied with Beverley for the medalist lead is BYU's Rhett Rasmussen. A freshman, Rasmussen played a flawless round of golf with birdies coming on the 2nd, 8th, 13th and 14th holes.
The leading duo holds a one-stoke lead over Geoff Fry of Pacific, Seattle's Kyle Cornett and Isaac Petersilie who are tied for third at 3-under. In all 20 players are even-par or better and within four of the lead.
Behind Sacramento State and BYU in the team standings are Boise State (E) in third, Seattle (+1) in fourth while host Pacific (+2) is fifth.
View results for Pacific Invitational
ABOUT THE Pacific Invitational
54 hole men's college tournament hosted by the
University of the Pacific. Team (best four scores out of
five players each round) and individual competitions.
View Complete Tournament Information