Washington State University Athletics

Cougars Tied for Sixth After First Day at Mark Simpson Invite
October 02, 2023 | Men's Golf
ERIE, Colo. – Senior Jaden Cantafio sits at 2-under, 142, to lead Washington State Men's Golf through the first two rounds of the 2023 Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, played Monday at the par-72, 7,787-yard Colorado National Golf Club.
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As a team, the Cougars opened with a 6-under, 282, before posting a 1-over, 289 second round score to finish the first day tied for sixth at 5-under, 571. San Francisco leads the tournament at 18-under, 558, followed by UTEP seven strokes back.
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Cantafio started strong in his first round, posting three birdies on his first six holes. He ended his first 18 with five birdies en route to a 3-under, 69. In the afternoon, he shot a 1-over, 73, giving him a two-round score of 2-under, 142, tied for 17th overall.
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Sophomore Sam Renner opened his morning round with a double-bogey before covering the next 17 holes in even-par for a 2-over, 74. Renner bounced back in the afternoon, opening with back-to-back birdies and throwing in the lone eagle of the day for WSU on hole 1 to finish the round at 3-under, 69. Renner sits tied for 23rd at 1-under, 143, after his first two rounds.
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Fifth-year senior Pono Yanagi fired rounds of 72-72 for an even-par 144 after 36 holes and is tied for 30th overall. Yanagi recorded nine birdies on his two rounds. Sophomore Daniel Kim opened the day with a 2-under, 70, matching his career-low round as a Cougar, with five birdies over the first 18 holes. Kim followed that with a 3-over, 75, in the afternoon and is tied for 40th overall at 1-over, 145.
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Senior Preston Bebich began his day with birdies on four of his first six holes en route to an opening-round score of 1-under, 71. Bebich followed that with a 3-over 75 in the afternoon and sits tied for 51st at 2-over, 146, following the opening 36 holes.
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Play concludes at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational Tuesday with a final 18 holes.
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As a team, the Cougars opened with a 6-under, 282, before posting a 1-over, 289 second round score to finish the first day tied for sixth at 5-under, 571. San Francisco leads the tournament at 18-under, 558, followed by UTEP seven strokes back.
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Cantafio started strong in his first round, posting three birdies on his first six holes. He ended his first 18 with five birdies en route to a 3-under, 69. In the afternoon, he shot a 1-over, 73, giving him a two-round score of 2-under, 142, tied for 17th overall.
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Sophomore Sam Renner opened his morning round with a double-bogey before covering the next 17 holes in even-par for a 2-over, 74. Renner bounced back in the afternoon, opening with back-to-back birdies and throwing in the lone eagle of the day for WSU on hole 1 to finish the round at 3-under, 69. Renner sits tied for 23rd at 1-under, 143, after his first two rounds.
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Fifth-year senior Pono Yanagi fired rounds of 72-72 for an even-par 144 after 36 holes and is tied for 30th overall. Yanagi recorded nine birdies on his two rounds. Sophomore Daniel Kim opened the day with a 2-under, 70, matching his career-low round as a Cougar, with five birdies over the first 18 holes. Kim followed that with a 3-over, 75, in the afternoon and is tied for 40th overall at 1-over, 145.
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Senior Preston Bebich began his day with birdies on four of his first six holes en route to an opening-round score of 1-under, 71. Bebich followed that with a 3-over 75 in the afternoon and sits tied for 51st at 2-over, 146, following the opening 36 holes.
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Play concludes at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational Tuesday with a final 18 holes.
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Players Mentioned
WSU MGolf: Pono Yanagi NCAA Regional Selection Interview - 5/10/23
Thursday, May 11
WSU MGOLF: Pono Yanagi Interview - 4/25/23
Wednesday, April 26
WSU MGOLF: Head Coach Dustin White talks Pac-12 Championship - 4/25/23
Wednesday, April 26
WSU MGOLF: Coach White Interview - 10/28/22
Saturday, October 29

















