CHANDLER, Ariz. - Santa Clara men's golf's fall 2026 campaign could not have asked for a better start. The Broncos were lights out in Monday's opening day of action at the Bomb Darts Birds Collegiate, carding a 36-hole total of 35-under 541 to take a one-stroke lead into Tuesday's final round. The 36-hole tally is the second-lowest in program history and their opening round total of 23-under 265 is tied for the lowest 18-hole score in program history.
Newcomers
Jared Abercrombie and
Ryan Xie were sensational in their Bronco debuts. Abercrombie, a transfer from Cal Baptist, was the individual leader after the first round after carding a 7-under 65, and followed with a 4-under 68 in round No. 2 to finish the day 11-under par and tied for third place. Xie, a freshman in his first-ever collegiate event, was equally impressive with rounds of 68 and 67 to finish the day tied for eighth at 9-under 135.
Junior
Emil Nielsen also carded in the 60s for both rounds, tallying rounds of 67 and 69 to finish the day a shot behind Xie at 8-under 136 where he is tied for 13th. All-WCC returners
Matt Robles and
J.P. Odland are tied with each other in 29th place after each shooting 5-under 139 for the day.
ROUND HIGHLIGHTS:
- Santa Clara leads the 13-team field by one stroke on a day where each team turned in big numbers despite battling 100 degree heat at the par 72 Whirlwind Golf Course. New Mexico State is right on the Broncos' heels at 34-under while host-USC is just two strokes back at 33-under par.
- SCU's opening round tied the team's first round total of 23-under 265 at the 2017 edition of The Jackrabbit for the lowest in program history.
- Their 36-hole total is second in program history and just one shy of the record of 36-under, also set in 2017 at The Jackrabbit.
- Abercrombie began the day with an outstanding nine birdies against just two bogeys in the opening round. He followed up with a bogey-free second round and birdied Nos. 2, 7, 13 and 18.
- Xie was bogey-free in the opening round with four birdies of his own on Nos. 2, 5 and 7 on the front nine and No. 16 on the back. He then rolled in six more birdie putts in the second round and had just one bogey on the par-5 No. 17 hole.
- Nielsen also had just one bogey for the day, coming in the second round. He was perfect in the first round with birdies on Nos. 7, 13 and 17, and turned in an eagle on the par-5 No. 12 hole.
- The No. 12 hole was also good to Robles, who also shot an eagle there as part of his opening round that featured six birdies against a pair of bogeys.
- Odland was also bogey-free in his first round with five birdies on Nos. 5, 7, 12, 14 and 17. It was the Tiburon, Calif., product's 52nd career round under par.
- Santa Clara had 48 total birdies for the day, second only to USC (51) among the field.
BRONCO INDIVIDUALS:
| Place |
Player |
Score (To Par) |
| T3. |
Abercrombie |
65-68--133 (-11) |
| T8. |
Xie |
68-67--135 (-9) |
| T13. |
Nielsen |
67-69--136 (-8) |
| T29. |
Robles |
66-73--139 (-5) |
| T29. |
Odland |
67-72--139 (-5) |
| T68. |
Hayden (Ind.) |
72-73--145 (+1) |
TEAM STANDINGS:
| Place |
Team |
Score (To Par) |
| 1. |
Santa Clara |
265-276--541 (-35) |
| 2. |
New Mexico State |
270-272--542 (-34) |
| 3. |
USC |
269-274--543 (-33) |
| 4. |
#19 Stanford |
280-269--549 (-27) |
| 5. |
Arkansas State |
274-279--553 (-23) |
| 6. |
UTEP |
277-277--554 (-22) |
| T7. |
Baylor |
278-278--556 (-20) |
| T7. |
JMU |
282-274--556 (-20) |
| T9. |
Eastern Michigan |
273-285--558 (-18) |
| T9. |
ULM |
287-271--558 (-18) |
| 11. |
Cal |
278-281--559 (-17) |
| 12. |
Washington State |
283-281--564 (-12) |
| 13. |
Fresno State |
284-285--569 (-7) |
