KINGSBURG, Calif. - UC Riverside opened the 2022-23 season on Monday at the Nick Watney Invitational with Josh Hu (70-69-139) tied for 11th after 36 holes at the Kings River Golf & Country Club. 

UCR returned to the event after a three-year hiatus, last participating in 2019. 

Hu started both rounds on 13 and carded five of his seven birdies in round two after shooting for par on the entire back nine in round one. The senior also notched an eagle on 15 in an upstart second round en route to a 69 to finish the day. 

He was one of five Highlanders out of the six participants who carded a lower score in round two, including Mark Gao, who is competing individually at the Highlanders' first tournament of three fall tournaments. 

UC Riverside will finish the Nick Watney Invitational with Monday's third and final round from Kingsburg.