Ronne Shares First Round Lead at Saint Mary’s

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Craig Ronne shot a career-best 7-under par and was tied for the lead after the first round of the Saint Mary's Invitational, played Monday at the par-71, 7,002-yard Poppy Hills Golf Club.
 
Ronne, a senior from Klamath Falls, Ore., had seven birdies and 11 pars on his way to a 64 that helped Oregon stand tied for third after the opening round.
 
"Great round by Craig," said assistant coach Jeff Quinney. "He was in control all day and set the tone for us to get off to a good start and be in the hunt."
 
How It Happened: Ronne was at his best on both the par-five and the par-three holes. He played the par-fives in 3-under and had birdies on two of the four par-threes. Ronne was tied for first with Santa Clara's Jack Avrit, who is the older brother of Oregon's Owen Avrit.
 
The Ducks also counted a 1-under 70 from Nate Stember, a 1-over 72 from Greg Solhaug and a plus-3 from Greyson Leach. Stember played steady golf with two birdies and just one bogey and was tied for 21st after the first round.
 
Oregon was tied for third with Santa Clara at 4-under 280. No. 6 Stanford led at minus-15 with San Francisco second at 7-under.
 
Notable: Ronne's round matched his career low score, a 6-under 64 that came at the season-opening Maui Jim Intercollegiate at the par-70 Mirabel Golf Club.
 
Ducks On The Leaderboard
Poppy Hills Golf Club (Par 71, 7,002 Yards)
T3. Oregon – 280 (-4)
T1. Craig Ronne – 64 (-7)
T21. Nate Stember – 70 (-1)
T41. Greg Solhaug – 72 (+1)
T66. Greyson Leach – 74 (+3)
T66. Eric Doyle* – 74 (+3)
T93. Owen Avrit – 77 (+6)
*competing as an individual
 
Up Next: Round two of the Saint Mary's Invitational begins Tuesday at 8 a.m.
 
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