NAPA, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's golf team tied for third overall in its inaugural appearance at the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championships on Monday at Silverado Resort and Spa. The Cougars shot rounds of 294 and 295 to finish at 13-over 589 along with Cal State East Bay.
Chico State, ranked No. 1 nationally, secured the top spot in emphatic fashion with a total of 4-under 572 (287-285), 13 strokes ahead of runner-up Stanislaus State (294-291 – 585, +9). Sonoma State (293-301 – 594, +18) and Cal State Dominguez Hills (303-291 – 584, +18) tied for fifth overall, five strokes behind CSUSM and CSUEB.
CSUSM senior
TJ Masters birdied two of his last four holes and finished with a 1-under 71 in the second round. His total of 2-over 146 put him in a tie for 12
th in the 45-player field.
Dylan Healey shot even in the opening round, but carded a 76 in the second go-around and finished in a tie for 15
th at 4-over 148.
Ryan Odom and
Aaron Bronis both went 75-74 and tied for 20
th (+5).
Dale Smith opened with a 72 and finished the day with a 79, tying for 28
th (+7).
Adam Stone (-5) of CSUEB earned medalist honors by defeating Chico's Justin Wiles (-5) on the second playoff hole. Chico had three of the tournament's top-five finishers.
In addition to the 36 holes determining the Conference's individual champion, the four highest-finishing teams advance to Tuesday's medal/match play semifinals.
The Cougars would have been one of four teams to advance to the medal/match play portion of the competition, were it not for CSUSM's NCAA Division II Candidacy Year Two status. As a NCAA DII candidacy member, CSUSM is not eligible to move on in the competition.
So, Sonoma State and Cal State Dominguez Hills went to a playoff and the Seawolves secured the last spot in Tuesday's Conference semifinals on the first extra hole. SSU will play Chico State, while CSUEB will take on Stanislaus State. The winner of each match will face each other for the CCAA title on Wednesday in medal/match play.
The par-72, 6,813-yard track played to a 74.71 stroke average throughout the two rounds.
Bronis will be the only player returning for the 2016-17 season. Seniors Odom, Healey, Smith and Masters ended their collegiate playing days on Monday in Napa.
The 2015-16 CSUSM squad won three tournaments and twice took down No. 1 Chico State.
Team Leaderboard
**1. Chico State 287-285 – 572, -4; **2. Stanislaus State 294-291 – 585, +9;
T3. Cal State San Marcos 294-295 – 589, +13; **T3. Cal State East Bay 295-294 – 589; **T5. Sonoma State 293-301 – 594, +18; T5. Cal State Dominguez Hills 303-291-594, +18; 7. Cal State Monterey Bay 295-300 – 595; T8. Cal State San Bernardino 300-298 – 598, +22; T8. UC San Diego 296-302 – 598, +22.
**Advance to medal/match play.
Individual Leaderboard
*T1. Adam Stone (CSUEB) 70-69 – 139, -5; T1. Justin Wiles (Chico) 69-70 – 139, -5; T3. Lee Gearhart (Chico) 71-71 – 142, -2; T3. Alistair Docherty (Chico) 73-69 – 142; T3. AJ Borges (Stan St) 73-69 – 142.
CSUSM scores: T12. TJ Masters (CSUSM) 75-71 – 146, +2;
T15. Dylan Healey (CSUSM) 72-76 – 148, +4;
T20. Aaron Bronis (CSUSM) 75-74 – 149, +5;
T20. Ryan Odom 75-74 – 149, +5;
T28. Dale Smith (CSUSM) 72-79 – 151, +7.
*Medalist in playoff.
