DUPONT, Wash. – Cal State East Bay men's golf opened its 2023-24 schedule as by taking part in the Bishop Invitational hosted by Saint Martin's University. The first two rounds of the tournament were completed Friday. 
 
In the opening round in the morning, Melker Backstrom and Easton Hether each shot a 2-under-par 70 to lead the Pioneers. Hether had three birdies and an eagle in the season's opening round while Backstrom had three birdies. 
 
In the second round, in the afternoon, Hether shot a 3-under-par 69 for a one day total of 5-under-par 139. Hether is tied for second along with Junsu Im of UH Hilo and Jackson Jacob of Fraser Valley. Backstrom shot a 71 in the second round for a day one score of -3-under-par 141. Backstrom is tied for eighth along with Bailey Bjornson of Simon Fraser and Zach Ryujin of University of Victoria. 
 
Simon Fraser leads the team competition by seven strokes and Manu Gandhi of University of British Columbia leads the individual competition by one stroke at 6-under-par 138. 

Saturday's third round is set to tee off at 8 a.m. from The Home Course with a shotgun start.