CHICO, Calif. – Cal State East Bay played two rounds of its second tournament of the 2023-24 schedule as they took part in the Wildcat Classic at Butte Creek Country Club. Through one round, the Pioneers are in third place among
 
In the opening round, Melker Backstrom led the Pioneers with a 2-under-par 70, Adam Brangefalt shot 1-under-par 71 and Easton Hether shot an even par 72.
 
Hether shot the low round of the day of 64 (-8) as he had nine birdies (four on the front nine, five on the back nine) in the round. Hether is tied for first on the leaderboard with John Kim of Cal State San Bernardino, each at 8-under-par 136.
 
Additional highlights from Monday's action for CSUEB include:

• Identical day one totals for Brangefalt and Backstrom to sit at 1-under-par 143, tied for 15^th with four other golfers.
• 11 birdies total for Hether and Backstrom among the 36 holes played.
• From holes 5-10, Brangefalt had a birdie of five of the holes in the aforementioned stretch.
• In Backstrom's first round performance, he had eight birdies.
• Aaron Lee (competing as an individual) had five second round birdies. 

Brangefalt and Backstrom shot identical one day totals to sit at 1-under-par 143, tied for 15^th with four other golfers.
 
Chico State and Sonoma State are tied atop the leaderboard for the team competition heading into Tuesday's final round.
 
The Pioneers will play in the final round at the Wildcat Classic tomorrow. Tee time for the third round is set for a 9 a.m. shotgun start.