Results - PDF

CORNING, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay men's golf team finished seventh out of 16 teams at the InterWest Insurance Wildcat Invitational, hosted by Chico State. This was the first tournament of season for the Pioneers, who placed three golfers in the top-25 and one in the top-10.

Senior Chris Herzog, one of the Pioneers' top returners, posted the team's lowest score. Herzog, who placed eighth at last year's CCAA Championship, came out of the gate strong with a 71 in the first round. This was the only round under par for the Pioneer squad in this tournament. Herzog added rounds of 74 and 73 to finish at 218 (+2), good for 10th place in the 80-player field.

After a strong first season in which he shot the lowest score for the Pioneers at last year's NCAA West Regional, Senior Blake Ahlin got off to a solid start in 2012. Ahlin posted rounds of 73, 74, and 72 for a total of 219 (+3) that placed him 13th overall. Ahlin converted 14 birdies, the second-most in the tournament.

Senior A.J. Maxedon finished 25th overall, turning in an encouraging performance in which he improved his score each round. He posted the Pioneers' worst score of the first round with a 76, but bounced back with a 74 and 73 to finish at 223 (+7), the third-best mark on the team. Maxedon's 39 pars were tied for most among all golfers.

Newcomer Sam Lavelle kicked off his Pioneer career with a solid 73 in the first round. He had a few more hiccups in the latter two rounds, turning in scores of 75 and 79 to finish with a 227 (+11). Despite a disappointing finish, Lavelle still placed just outside the top half of the field at 44th.

The lone underclassmen to qualify, sophomore A.J. Hebert notched 75, 78, and 79 in his first three rounds of the fall season. Hebert's overall score of 232 (+16) placed him 63rd overall.

Cal State Stanislaus ended up running away with the tournament, finishing nine strokes ahead of second-place Cal State Monterey Bay. The Warriors were led by Rob Damschen, who won the individual title. He shot the low round of the tournament with a first round 66 and turned in an overall score of 209 (-7).

With a seventh place finish overall, Cal State East Bay had the fourth-lowest team score among CCAA participants. Cal State Stanislaus and Cal State Monterey Bay were the only other teams to place multiple golfers in the top-15. The Pioneers also finished ahead of conference foes Cal State San Bernardino and UC San Diego.

Cal State East Bay will be back in action next week at the Sonoma State Invitational in Santa Rosa, where they'll look to improve upon a sixth place finish at last year's tournament.