VISTA, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's golf team took home the 2016 CSUSM Fujikura Invitational by one stroke over top-ranked Chico State on Tuesday afternoon at Shadowridge Golf Club.
Heading into the final round with an 11-shot lead, the Cougars' 12-over 300 was just enough to edge the Wildcats' 2-over 290. CSUSM finished at 12-over 876 (294-282-300), one ahead of CSUC's 13-over 877 (298-289-290).
The victory marks the Cougars' third tournament victory of the 2015-16 season and the second time that CSUSM has topped No. 1 Chico State. The Cougars took home CSUC's home fall tournament, the InterWest Wildcat Classic at Butte Creek Country Club, on Oct. 5-6, 2015.
"I really challenged the guys last week to think really hard about winning this tournament. The field was pretty deep and tough, and we knew it would really test us," said CSUSM head coach
Greg Hutton. "All eight of our guys who competed over the last two days really grinded it out and played with a purpose. Dale [Smith] has really come around as of late and its good to see him perform at this level."
CSUSM's
Dale Smith (71-68-74 – 213) and Lee Gearhart (70-72-71 -213, -3) of Chico State tied for the individual title after both finished at 3-under 213. Smith, who entered the day with a two-shot lead, shot 2-over 74. Gearhart started the day in third, three shots back, but bested Smith with a 1-under 71.
Smith had an opportunity to win the tournament title on the 18
th hole with a four-foot, left-to-right breaker, but it missed off the left edge and the players went to a playoff.
Smith hooked his second shot into the lake on the par-5 1
st hole, while Gearhart left himself with a 25-footer for birdie. Gearhart missed his attempt to win, but left himself an easy tap-in for par.
Smith played his 15-foot par putt aggressively, needing to make it to force another playoff hole, but pushed it long by about seven feet. He missed the comebacker for bogey and conceded the playoff hole to Gearhart.
Dylan Healey matched Smith with a final-round 74 and tied for sixth overall at 4-over 220 (75-71-74).
Scott Shefflette carded a 75 while
Ryan Odom rounded out the scoring with a 77.
TJ Masters' 79 was thrown out of the team score, but he still placed 11
th overall at 7-over 223 (73-71-79). Odom tied for 12
th, one shot back of Masters at 8-over 224 (75-72-77).
Shefflette tied for 19
th at 11-over 227 (76-76-75).
Freshman
Marc Toma competed as an individual and tied Odom for 12
th after rounds of 74-74-77 (224, +8).
Shadowridge Golf Club played to an average of 77.65 strokes per round for the 78-player field.
Team Leaderboard
1. Cal State San Marcos 294-282-300, 876, +12; 2. Chico State 298-289-290 – 877, +13; 3. Texas Wesleyan 297-295-297 – 889, +25; 4. Dominican 315-296-284 – 895, +31; 5. The Master's College 307-305-298 – 901, +46; 6. Stanislaus State 305-305-302-912, +48; 7. Cal State San Bernardino 307-305-305 – 917, +53; 8. UC San Diego 301-316-304 – 921, +57; 9. Academy of Art 310-31-304 – 926, +62; 10. Concordia (Ore.) 320-301-308 – 929, +65; 11. Regis 322-309-305 – 936, +72; 12. William Jessup 321-314-307 – 942, +78; 13. Holy Names 321-316-309 – 946, +82; 14. Fort Lewis College 329-315-311 – 955, +91; 15. Colorado Mesa 318-333-315 – 966, +102.
Individual Leaderboard
*1. Lee Gearhart (Chico) 70-72-71 – 213, -3;
1. Dale Smith (CSUSM) 71-68-74 – 213, -3; 3. Leo Mathard (TWU) 69-72-74 – 215, -1;
Other CSUSM Scores: T6. Dylan Healey (CSUSM) 75-71-74 – 220, +4;
11. TJ Masters (CSUSM) 73-71-79 – 223, +7; T12. Ryan Odom (CSUSM) 75-72-77 – 224, +8;
T12. Marc Toma (i) (CSUSM) 74-74-76 – 224, +8; T19. Scott Shefflette (CSUSM) 76-76-75 – 227, +11;
T48. Aaron Bronis (i) (CSUSM) 80-76-79 -235, +19;
T65. Christian Nicolini (i) (CSUSM) 84-83-76 – 243, +27.
