TUCSON, Ariz. – Defending champion Cal (292-279 – 571, -5) erased a nine-stroke deficit and moved  into  first place at the end of second-round action Sunday at the 54-hole National Invitational Tournament hosted by Arizona. Cal will begin Monday's third and final round at OMNI Tucson National's Catalina Course with a two-stroke lead over New Mexico (296-277 – 573, -3).

New Mexico had the best team score of the day Saturday at 11-under par, while Cal's nine-under that featured all four scoring players in the red was the second best. The two teams are the only squads under par for the tournament.

“It was great to see how our team responded today,” head coach Steve Desimone said.

The freshman duo of KK Limbhasut (75-67 – 142, -2) and Sebastian Crampton (71-71 – 142, E) are tied for seventh after 36 holes, six off the pace of second-round leader Scott Fernandez of Iowa State (70-66 – 136, -8).

Limbhasut tied for the second-best round of the day on Saturday with a five-under par 67 that moved him up 30 spots from where he began the day in a tie for 37th. Limbhasut had six birdies including five over his last 10 holes (9, 10, 11, 13, 16). Four of his birdies came on par-four holes with the exceptions the par-three fourth and par-five 10th holes. He also made a 25-foot putt from off the green to save par on the 18th hole. His lone bogey came on the par-five eighth.

“I was able to hit more greens today and the putts were dropping on the back nine,” Limbhasut said. “Our whole team was able to take advantage of the course more today when it was less windy. Hopefully we'll play well again tomorrow.”

“KK really got it going today on the back nine,” Desimone said.

Crampton registered his second straight one-under par round by making birdies on each of the course's par-five holes (2, 8, 10, 15). His three bogeys came on a pair of par-fours (6, 9) and the par-three 17th.

Cameron Shaw (72-71 – 143, -1) is one shot behind Limbhasut and Crampton in a tie for 12th. Shaw matched Crampton's birdies on each of the course's par-fives (2, 8, 10, 15), while his bogeys were on a pair of par-fours (1, 11) and the par-three 12th.

Shotaro Ban (76-70 – 146, +2) was Cal's other scorer on Sunday as he fired the team's second-best round behind Limbhasut. His two-under par round moved him 20 spots from where he started the day into a tie for 27th overall. Ban had two birdies (2, 13) and 16 pars in a bogeyless round after making six in his opening round Saturday.

“Yesterday was a tough day when nothing really went my way and my short game was non-existent,” Ban said. “But today I played pretty solid. I didn't score well and my putter lacked today, but I hit the ball much better.”

“It says a lot about your team when you have four guys playing under par,” Desimone said.

“The team really rallied today,” Ban added. “It was awesome stuff from the younger guys.”

Alexander Wilson (74-75 – 149, +5) is also in Cal's lineup and tied for 46^th after two rounds, while Ben Doyle (77-73 – 150, +6) is playing as an individual and tied for 51st.

Third and final-round action is scheduled to begin Monday at 8 a.m. MST/7 a.m. PST, with Cal's first golfer scheduled off the first tee at 9:30 a.m. Monday's weather forecast calls for a 90 percent chance of rain by 3 p.m. with a 50 percent chance of showers by mid-morning and winds above 20 miles per hour by late morning.

Cal is looking for its second consecutive victory and its fourth overall in eight events this season. Cal was also the NIT champion in 2014.

NATIONAL INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT (HOSTED BY ARIZONA)
TUCSON, AZ
OMNI TUCSON NATIONAL – CATALINA COURSE (PAR-72, 7200 YARDS)
 
TEAM LEADERBOARD (after 2 of 3 days/2 of 3 rounds/36 of 54 holes)
1. Cal (292-279 – 571, -5)
2. New Mexico (296-277 – 573, -3)
3. Santa Clara (284-292 – 576, E)
4. UTEP (287-290 – 577, +1)
T5. New Mexico State (283-296 – 579, +3)
T5. San Diego State (298-281 – 579, +3)
7. San Diego (294-288 – 582, +6)
8. TCU (289-295 – 584, +8)
9. Saint Mary's (302-283 – 585, +9)
10. Arizona (292-295 – 587, +11)
11. Iowa State (299-289 – 588, +12)
12. Colorado State (300-293 – 593, +17)
13. Oregon State (300-295 – 595, +19)
14. San Jose State (303-293 – 596, +20)
15. Wyoming (310-303 – 613, +37)
 
PLAYER LEADERBOARD – INDIVIDUAL LEADER (after 2 of 3 days/2 of 3 rounds/36 of 54 holes)
1. Scott Fernandez (Iowa State) 70-66 – 136 (-8)

PLAYER LEADERBOARD – CAL INDIVIDUALS (after 2 of 3 days/2 of 3 rounds/36 of 54 holes)
T7. Sebastian Crampton (71-71 – 142, -2)
T7. KK Limbhasut (75-67 – 142, -2)
T12. Cameron Shaw (72-71 – 143, -1)
T27. Shotaro Ban (76-70 – 136, +2)
T46. Alexander Wilson (74-75 – 149, +5)
^T51. Ben Doyle (77-73 – 150, +6)
^Played as individual