2023 RJGA Palm Valley Classic (Rounds 1 & 2)
GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Day one of the 2023 RJGA Palm Valley Classic consisted of 36 total holes with all participants playing two rounds, and after the first day of action Academy of Art men's golf is currently 19th with a combined score of 56-over-par 632.
Out in front for the Urban Knights is sophomore
Giulio Zanichelli, who shares a piece of 33rd place with an overall score of 8-over-par 152. Much like the team, Zanichelli's best 18 holes came in the opening round when he carded a 2-over-par 74. He was cruising through his opening round, recording all pars on the front nine until a birdie on the ninth hole helped him make the turn at 1-under, but after four more pars and two more birdies on the 11th and 14th holes, Zanichelli ran into some trouble down the stretch to fall out of the top 10 on the leaderboard. While his second round was more rocky, he did tally two more birdies and closed his second back-nine at just 1-over leading to a 6-over-par 78, which was still the best second-round score by an Urban Knight.
Up next in the scoring for Academy of Art was junior
Jack DeBenedetti, who is currently tied for the tournament field lead in birdies with a total of 10 over his 36 holes while tied for 79th place at 15-over-par 159. He split those birdies between he two rounds, recording his first five when he was 8-over-par 80 in his opening round before following that with a 7-over-par 79 in the second round, which included a stretch of three straight birdies from the ninth through the 11th holes. Shortly behind DeBenedetti in a tie for 83rd place at 16-over-par 160 is sophomore
Anson Pan, who did shoot a 3-over-par 75 with two birdies in his opening round. Rounding out the scoring junior
Allan Osornio in a tie for 99th place at 20-over-par 164.
On top of the team portion of the tournament is Colorado Mesa, who currently enjoys at two-stroke lead thanks to their combined score of 8-over-par 584 over the second place West Texas A&M (10-over-par 586). Hawaii Pacific is the only other Pacific West Conference team in the tournament, and HPU is currently tied for 14th place at 45-over-par 621. There is currently a three-way tie atop the individual leaderboard, as Kolton Baber of West Texas A&M, Xavier Bighaus of Colorado Christian, and Cole Beyer of Colorado Mesa are all deadlocked at 2-under-par 142.
The 2023 RJGA Palm Valley Classic concludes with round three tomorrow with a shotgun start beginning at 7 a.m.
