Final Results: Web | PDF
PASO ROBLES, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay men's golf team finished the 2012 CCAA Championships with a three-over 291 in the third round to take sixth and post its best finish in program history at the event. Playing in their third CCAA Tournament, the Pioneers finished just two strokes back of fifth place and four strokes out of fourth place with a team total of 872 (+8) over 54 holes at Hunters Ranch Golf Course in Paso Robles.
Jeff Cornez paced East Bay in the final round, carding a four-under 68 to finish with a one-under 215 and tie for eighth place with four other golfers, including teammate
Chris Herzog. The eighth-place showing was a nine-place improvement for Cornez, who also led the Pioneers at the 2011 championships. The third-round 68 made Cornez one of just four individuals to notch a 68 or better in the tournament and allowed him to move from a tie for 23rd following day one into the top 10 at the finish. Herzog notched a 71 (-1) in the final round to tie with Cornez for the team lead and eighth place in the field of 40 individuals. The tournament marked the sixth time this season that Herzog has led the team.
Despite carding a five-over 77 in the final round,
Blake Ahlin managed to give the Pioneers three players in the top 25 with a three-round total of 221 (+5) to finish 23rd. After leading the team with a 69 (-3) in the first round,
A.J. Warren finished the tournament in a tie for 28th with a three-round total of 224 (+8). Warren took three strokes off his second round score to card a four-over 76 in the final round and improve seven places on his 2011 championships finish.
A.J. Maxedon rounded out the East Bay contingent with a third-round 76 (+4) to finish in a tie for 32nd overall. Maxedon's final total of 227 (+11) tied him with Cal State Monterey Bay's Jered Stone.
Cal State East Bay's sixth-place showing was the best the program has seen since joining the CCAA in 2009-10. The Pioneers improved on last year's team score by eight strokes and beat out both No. 19 Sonoma State and Cal State Dominguez Hills by eight and 54 strokes, respectively.
No. 5 Chico State claimed the team title, topping No. 4 Cal State Stanislaus by nine strokes with a team total of 846 (-18). UC San Diego claimed third, finishing 20 strokes back of the Wildcats, while No. 24 Cal State Monterey Bay took fourth at four-over and Cal State San Bernardino finished just ahead of East Bay with a total of 870 (+6). Three players, Chico State's Eric Frazzetta and Kyle Souza and the Otters' Alex Sobstad, tied for first place, with Sobstad winning a one-hole playoff to claim the individual medalist honors.
Souza took home CCAA Most Valuable Player honors, while Sobstad was named Newcomer of the Year and the Warriors' Paul Smith earned Freshman of the Year accolades. Cal State Stanislaus' John Cook was honred as Coach of the Year.
Read the CCAA's complete tournament recap
Cal State East Bay, which received a vote in the latest GCAA National Poll, grabbed the No. 7 spot in the NCAA Division II West Regional Rankings released on April 20. Ten teams will advance to the West/Central Regional to be held May 7-9 at the Wigwam Resort Gold Course in Litchfield Park, Ariz.
