NUMATA, Japan (AP) — The U.S. pair of Alan Morgan (LSU) and Anthony Arvidson (Oregon State) beat Kaneyori Aramoto (Toyota Kokusai) and Taichiro Kiyota (Nippon Sports Science), 143-147, to help the United States tie Japan, 6-6, on Tuesday in the first round at the annual U.S.-Japan Collegiate Matches.
Morgan, an All-American who completed his eligibility at LSU in the spring, shot a 2-over par 74 in the first round while Arvidson shot the United States team’s second-lowest round of the day, 3-under 69.
Japan was 3-1 in men’s doubles and the United States won both matches in women’s doubles. Each match victory is worth two points and a tie is worth one.
The format in the 54-hole event will shift to singles for the final two days. The United States leads Japan 18-7 in the series, which began in 1975.
Nihon’s Yoshiaki Kimura shot the day’s best round with a 7-under-par 65. University teammate Riki Ikeda shot a 71 and beat Arizona’s Ricky Barnes and Oregon State’s Nick Watney 136-140. Barnes shot 73 and Watney 67.
Naomi Ohta and Kiyohiro Ebara, both from Nippon Sports Science beat Georgia’s Bryant Odom, and Greensboro’s Kevin O’Connell 144-146.
Takuya Taniguchi and Yusaku Miyazato, both from Tohoku Fukushi University, beat Southern California’s Hunter Mahan, and Rolline College’s Rob Oppenheim 139-145.
Among the women, Stacy Pramannsudh (Tulsa) and Summer Sirmons (Georgia) beat Youko Yonemura (Kinki) and Hitomi Matsumura (Kyushu Tokai) 153-155.
Arizona’s Natalie Gulbis shot the day’s best round with a par 72, and Natalie Tucker (Indiana) had a 79. They beat Mika Saito (Tohoku Fukushi) and Kaori Kawanaka (Senshu) 151-153.
The men played on the 6,948-yard, par-72 layout and the women played on the 6,485-yard, par-72 layout at Verde Sano Country Club course in Numata, 48 miles from Tokyo.
U.S.-Japan Collegiate Matches — First-round scores
Scores with relation to par from the first round 2001 U.S.-Japan Collegiate Matches July 3, played at the par-72 Verde Santo Country Club course (Men: 6,948 yards; Women: 6,485 yards) in Numata, Japan:
| Men | |||
| 1. | Yoshiaki Kimura, Nihon | 33-32–65 | -7 |
| 2. | Yusaku Miyazato, Tohoku Fukushi | 34-32–66 | -6 |
| 3. | Nick Watney, Fresno St. | 33-34–67 | -5 |
| 4. | Anthony Arvidson, Oregon St. | 34-35–69 | -3 |
| 5. | Bryant Odom, Georgia | 36-34–70 | -2 |
| 6. | Riki Ikeda, Nihon | 36-35–71 | -1 |
| 7. | Naomi Ohta, Nippon Sports Science | 35-37–72 | E |
| 7. | Kiyohiro Ebara, Nippon Sports Science | 36-36–72 | E |
| 7. | Hunter Mahan, Southern Cal | 35-37–72 | E |
| 7. | Taichiro Kiyota, Nippon Sports Science | 34-38–72 | E |
| 11. | Takuya Taniguchi, Tohoku Fukushi | 36-37–73 | +1 |
| 11. | Rob Oppenheim, Rolline | 36-37–73 | +1 |
| 11. | Ricky Barnes, Arizona | 36-37–73 | +1 |
| 14. | Alan Morgan, LSU | 37-37–74 | +2 |
| 15. | Kaneyori Aramoto, Toyama Kokusai | 36-39–75 | +3 |
| 15. | Kevin O’Connell, Greensboro | 39-37–76 | +3 |
| | |||
| Women | |||
| 1. | Natalie Gulbis, Arizona | 36-36–72 | E |
| 2. | Mika Saito, Tohoku Fukushi | 38-36–74 | +2 |
| 2. | Summer Sirmons, Georgia | 38-36–74 | +2 |
| 2. | Hitomi Matsumura, Kyushu Tokai | 38-36–74 | +2 |
| 5. | Stacy Pramannsudh, Tulsa | 41-38–79 | +7 |
| 5. | Natalie Tucker, Indiana | 40-39–79 | +7 |
| 5. | Kaori Kawanaka, Senshu | 38-41–79 | +7 |
| 8. | Youko Yonemura, Kinki | 40-41–81 | +9 |