The second-seeded Arizona State University men's golf team -- also ranked second by both Golfweek and Golfstat -- got a great performance from junior Chun An Yu Friday in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Championships held at the challenging and tough Blessings Golf Club (7,550 yards/par-72) in Fayetteville.

Six birdies put Yu in a solid spot after round one, as his 3-under 69 included three birdies on par-5 holes. He is tied for second, behind only Cal's Collin Morikawa (5-under 67).

"I hit my tee shots really well today," said the three-time collegiate winner Yu. "But most importantly our course management was awesome. I consider myself a long hitter, so for certain holes I can carry some bunkers or hazards. I can trust my game even more and I believe if I do that I can shoot a better score tomorrow."

Only 20 of the 156 players shot par and the average scoring round was 76.98. ASU shot 14-over 302 and is is tied for tenth, just four shots back of the top eight spot needed after Sunday to advance to match play. Just six shots separate seven teams from fifth and tied for tenth.

ASU will start Saturday at 6:50 a.m. again with Oklahoma State and Wake Forest, as the field is trimmed to 15 teams and top nine individuals not on those teams after Sunday's third round. The top eight teams advance to match play starting Tuesday with quarterfinals and semifinal action and the championship on Wednesday. Tee times for Sunday are set after Saturday's second round.

"Like all season Kevin was great today," said 2019 Pac-12 Coach of the Year Matt Thurmond, who coached James Lepp to the 2005 NCAA individual title, while also tutoring Cheng-Tsuung Pan (2015) and Nick Taylor (2008) to second-place NCAA finishes during his 15-year Washington tenure. "He didn't make any big mistakes and he just did what he does, which is hit it long and high and straight while making very few mistakes. He's just really steady on and off the course. Our team desperately needed it from him today. Not only did he show everyone on our team this course can be played well but he kept us in it when the other guys didn't have their stuff.  The course is really hard and only guys that can be really steady like Kevin will shoot under par."

Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Cameron Sisk carded a 4-over 76 after a tough start that had him at 4-over through his first six holes, but he then made par on the next seven holes and birdied two more before a double bogey on his final hole.

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND
BLESSINGS GOLF CLUB
FAYETTEVILLE, AR
7,550 YARDS/PAR 72
30 TEAMS/156 PLAYERS

TOP TEAMS/ASU
1. Oklahoma State 290/+2
T2. Stanford 291/+3
T2. California 291/+3
4. Auburn 292/+4
T5. Texas A&M 296/+8
T5. Wake Forest 296/+8
7. Ohio State 297/+9
8. Texas 298/+10
9. Georgia 299/+11
T10. Arizona State 302/+14
T10. Clemson 302/+14
T12. USC 304/+16
T12. North Carolina 304/+16

INDIVIDUAL LEADER/ASU
1. Collin Morikawa, Cal 67/-5
T2. Chun An Yu, ASU 69/-3
T2. Austin Eckroad, Oklahoma State 69/-3
T2. Kyler Dunkle, Utah 69/-3
T53. Cameron Sisk, ASU  76/+4
T87. Blake Wagoner, ASU 78/+6
T105. Alex del Rey, ASU 79/+7
T122. Mason Andersen, ASU 80/+8
 

Two @pac12 announced as Coach of the Year finalists, one of them is ours. Well done by Coach Matt! pic.twitter.com/MoSTGfttnt

— Sun Devil Men's Golf (@sundevilmgolf) May 24, 2019

NO SENIORITIS: ASU is one seven schools (BYU, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Louisville, SMU) to not have a senior in its opening round lineup at the NCAA Championships.

NCAA HISTORY: Sun Devil third-year head coach and 2019 Pac-12 Coach of the Year Matt Thurmond leads the Sun Devils, who under 2008 National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee and Pac-12 Coach of the Century Randy Lein won the 1996 team title and won the 1990 title under 2002 ASU Hall of Fame and 2009 NGCA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Loy. It marks the 55th NCAA Championship appearance for the program, which is fourth-best. ASU has now made the NCAA Finals in the 15 of the past 18 seasons and 33 of past 36.