Brandon Tsujimoto
(UC Riverside Athletics Photo)

Tsujimoto, a senior at UC Riverside, came firing out of the gates with three consecutive birdies on Nos. 2-4. Following a run of pars Tsujimoto birdied the 10th and the 12th to reached 7-under, only to give a couple of strokes back with bogeys on the 15th and 16th.

Sam Engel carded the low round of the week at Victoria Club, with a 6-under 66 that shot him up the leaderboard and into second place at 4-under. The Cal State Northridge senior did most of his work on the front nine as he posted a bogey-free six birdie 6-under 30. On the back nine a birdie and bogey produced an even-par inward nine.

First round leader Ryan Smith dropped a stroke to 3-under and third place with a 1-over 73. During his round Smith did birdie four holes, but also bogeyed four and double-bogeyed one.

Three players 2-under and tied for fourth; Tim Snyder, Nathan Clark and Christian Rajcic.

FIRST ROUND RECAP

Thanks to a first round 4-under 68 Ryan Smith grabbed the first round lead at the Inland Empire Amateur. Smith will take a one-stroke lead into the second round at the Victoria Club.

After three pars to begin his round Smith rounded into form with four birdies in the next six holes to turn in 4-under 32. Heading home Smith lost his only stroke of the day on the 13th and then rebounded on No. 17 with a birdie.

Smith will lead Christian Rajcic and Tim Snyder by one-stoke when play resumes on Sunday after both players posted 3-under 69.

Rajcic birdied four holes on the front side but double-bogeyed one as well. On the backside Rajcic birdied the 10th, his third birdie in a row, and then holed out for an eagle two on the 12th before birdieing the 13th to reach 6-under. However, three bogeys coming in stymied some of the momentum.

Snyder reached 3-under with a five birdie two bogey day. The birdies came on Nos. 5, 9, 10, 12 and 13.

Brandon Tsujimoto is 1-under and in fourth while five others are 1-under and tied for fifth.