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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Play concludes at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational Tuesday with a final 18 holes.