The University of Hawai'i men's golf team opened the 79th Western Intercollegiate at Pasatiempo Golf Club, currently positioned 14th with a team total of 380 (+30). The tournament features eight top-50 teams and is being broadcast on the Golf Channel. California leads the event after an impressive 7-under-par 343, while Nathan Szpakowicz stood out for Hawai'i, finishing tied for 36th with a 71 (+1) after a strong mid-round performance. This marks the first Western Intercollegiate appearances for freshmen Alec Hilgers and Chris Salem, with impressive potential seen across the team.

By the Numbers
  • Hawai'i is currently in 14th place, 14 strokes ahead of UC Irvine.
  • California holds the lead with a 7-under-par score of 343.
State of Play
  • Nathan Szpakowicz is tied for 36th place after carding a 71 (+1).
  • Freshman Alec Hilgers is tied for 75th with a score of 76 (+6).
  • Chris Salem is tied for 80th after scoring 78 (+8).
What's Next

Hawai'i will compete in the second round of the Western Intercollegiate on Tuesday, aiming to improve their position ahead of the final round on Wednesday. Their performance in this tournament will serve as a lead-in to the upcoming Big West Conference Championship.

Bottom Line

Hawai'i's early performance highlights both individual skill and team challenges, setting the stage for critical rounds ahead as they strive to climb the leaderboard and establish momentum heading into the conference championship.