Cabo, Mexico — Freshman Raines Watson fired a season-best 67 to sit in a tie for second after one round of the Cabo Collegiate.
Watson is in a four-way tie for second with Oklahoma State’s Preston Stout and Arkansas’ Thomas Curry and Gerardo Gomez. He sits three strokes behind leader Ziqun Zhou of Cal.
He began the day on the 15th hole, and immediately birdied the 16th. After reaching the front nine, he birdied the first and third holes. He gave a shot back on the seventh, but then birdied holes nine, 10 and 12, before bogeying the 13th.
It is his third round in the 60’s this year, and the 10th round of par or better.
The Owls are tied for fourth with Ole Miss and Cal after carding a two-under 282.
Redshirt senior Henry Daly is tied for 11th-plcae at -1 after posting a 69. It is his fourth round in the 60’s this year and the eighth of his career. It is also his 13th round of par or better this year and the 20th of his career.
Senior Lukas Boandl is tied for 25th-place after posting an even par 71. It was his team-leading 16th round of par or better this year and the 54th of his career.
Sophomore Daniel Zou tied for 55th-place after posting a four-over 75, and junior Reggie Zhu carded a 78 to tie for 72nd-place at +7.
No. 11 Oklahoma State leads the tournament at -4, one stroke in front of No. 7 Arizona State and No. 9 Arkansas.
JUSTIN EMIL QUOTABLE
“We played pretty solid most of the day with a few speed bumps, but overall it was a good day. Raines (Watson) had a big-time round today for us. For a freshman to go out and post a round like that, it’s pretty special. You love to see that. He has a great team behind him, so we will keep pushing the next two rounds.”
NEXT UP
The second round begins tomorrow with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. Rice will tee off from holes No. 5-9, and will be paired with student-athletes from Cal, Georgia Tech, and Tennessee,
t4 Rice 282 -2
t2 Raines Watson 67 -4
t11 Henry Daly 69 -2
t25 Lukas Boandl 71 E
t55 Daniel Zou 75 +4
t72 Reggie Zhu 78 +7
