Photo by: Dustin LeNorman
Men's golf leads after 18 at WAC Championship
4/29/2022 7:42:00 PM | Men's Golf
BOULDER CITY, Nev. – In the final tournament of the regular season, Gene Chaikangwal was playing as an individual for the Bearkats and just missed a top-10 finish by one stroke. The freshman used that momentum and paced the Kats on the first day of the WAC Championship, shooting a 69 as the Kats lead after the opening round of play.Â
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Playing in the opening group of the tournament, Chaikangwal got off to a blistering start, with two eagles in his first five holes. After back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 6 and 7, he birdied No. 9 to make the turn at 3-under. With two birdies and a double bogey on the back 9, the freshman from Bangkok, Thailand closed his day just one shot off the lead in second place.  Â
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As a team, the Bearkats shot 284 and lead New Mexico State by five shots with two rounds remaining. The score is the best opening 18 holes in a conference championship and the second-best championship round for the Kats since posting a 283 on the second day of the Southland Tournament in San Antonio in 1994.
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Junior Jack Randle also got off to a great start to the day. After a bogey on No. 1, he followed with an eagle No. 2 and birdies on Nos. 3 and 5 to get to 4-under. He finished the day with a 70 and currently sits in a tie for fourth place.
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Just outside the top 10 after the opening 18 holes is freshman Bret Gray who shot an even par round of 72 and is currently tied for 11th. Chad Sewell and Josh German are just a shot back at 1-over and are tied for 20th.
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The 69 by Chaikangwal is the best opening round score at a conference championship by a Bearkat since Noah Steele shot a 68 in the first round of the Southland Championship in 2018.
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After started the day as the first groups off on Friday, the Kats will get the late start for round two. German will get the morning started for Sam Houston at 9:45 a.m. and Chaikangwal, who was the first to tee off on Friday, will play in the final group on Saturday. Â
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Playing in the opening group of the tournament, Chaikangwal got off to a blistering start, with two eagles in his first five holes. After back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 6 and 7, he birdied No. 9 to make the turn at 3-under. With two birdies and a double bogey on the back 9, the freshman from Bangkok, Thailand closed his day just one shot off the lead in second place.  Â
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As a team, the Bearkats shot 284 and lead New Mexico State by five shots with two rounds remaining. The score is the best opening 18 holes in a conference championship and the second-best championship round for the Kats since posting a 283 on the second day of the Southland Tournament in San Antonio in 1994.
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Junior Jack Randle also got off to a great start to the day. After a bogey on No. 1, he followed with an eagle No. 2 and birdies on Nos. 3 and 5 to get to 4-under. He finished the day with a 70 and currently sits in a tie for fourth place.
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Just outside the top 10 after the opening 18 holes is freshman Bret Gray who shot an even par round of 72 and is currently tied for 11th. Chad Sewell and Josh German are just a shot back at 1-over and are tied for 20th.
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The 69 by Chaikangwal is the best opening round score at a conference championship by a Bearkat since Noah Steele shot a 68 in the first round of the Southland Championship in 2018.
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After started the day as the first groups off on Friday, the Kats will get the late start for round two. German will get the morning started for Sam Houston at 9:45 a.m. and Chaikangwal, who was the first to tee off on Friday, will play in the final group on Saturday. Â
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Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
Wednesday, May 20
Wednesday, May 20
Wednesday, May 20
Sunday, May 17
