Men's Golf September 20, 2023

Xu Paces Golf in 2023-2024 Season Opener

Senior goes seven-under, leading to a T-6 team finish at the USF Howard Intercollegiate

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Diego native, senior Andi Xu, started his 2023-24 season on a high note with a seven-under 209 (69, 72, 68) to be one of three golfers tied for seventh in the 80-man field at the USF Howard Intercollegiate at TPC Harding Park (Par-72, 7,154 yards).

San Diego golf, which made the trip up to San Francisco for its first event of the season, tied for sixth with Santa Clara out of 13 teams competing.

Overall, USD combined for a 12-under 852 (279, 291, 282) and was one of seven teams to finish under par. San Diego had the event's second-best score after the first round, trailing by two strokes to tournament host San Francisco, before falling back in the second round.

Ultimately, the Toreros finished one stroke behind Princeton and was 26 shots off the leader, Loyola Marymount at 38-under.

Behind Xu, graduate transfer Craig Ronne finished second on the team and tied for 21st on the leaderboard. Ronne, who transferred from the University of Oregon, posted a three-under 213 across three rounds (70, 72, 71) in his first event as a Torero.

In total, all six golfers who competed in the Bay Area finished inside the top 45.

Sophomore Ryan Plodkowski and senior Kelvin Si finished within one shot of each other. Plodkowski finished with a one-under 215 (71, 74, 70) and Si recorded an even-par 216 (73, 75, 68) through 54 holes, which was fueled by a final round 4-under 68, the fourth-best final round score in the field, along with Xu.

Freshman Ryan Abuan recorded an opening round two-under 70 to begin his collegiate golf career. Abuan placed T-37 with a two-over 218 (70, 72, 76).

Rounding out the Toreros at the USF-Howard Intercollegiate was junior Carson Enright. Enright, who also shot an opening round two-under 70, finished at five-over 221 (70, 76, 75) and tied for 45th.

Up next, San Diego golf returns to action on Monday, September 25 for the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate at the UNM Championship Golf Course.

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