Results (PDF)
CORNING, Calif. -- In its first action since finishing 12th at NCAA Division II Championships back in May, the Cal State East Bay men's golf team opened the 2017-18 season with a solid fourth place finish at Chico State's Interwest Wildcat Classic.
The Pioneers posted a team score of 578 (+2) after shooting identical rounds of 289 (+1) on Monday and Tuesday at the par-72 Links at Rolling Hills. The tournament was shortened from 54 to 36 holes after a weather delay during yesterday's first round.
The host Wildcats took the team title at 568 (-8), edging out California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) rival Cal State Monterey Bay (-6). Holy Names, coached by CSUEB alumnus and former Pioneer standout Chris Oetinger, finished three strokes ahead of East Bay in third. The Pioneers topped seven schools in the 11-team field, including four other CCAA squads.
East Bay's newcomers were impressive in the first event of the season, as juniors
Will Barnett and
Declan Illingsworth led the way. Barnett, a transfer from San Jose State and a native of Australia, followed up an even-par round on Monday with a 69 (-3) on Tuesday, which was the lowest score on the team this week. He finished in seventh place individually at 141 (-3), four strokes behind individual medalist Colby Dean of Chico State.
Illingsworth fired CSUEB's low round on Monday with a 70, tallying three birdies and just a single bogey. The Liverpool, England native carded 74 (+2) in the second round to wind up in 12th place at even par for the tournament (144).
Sophomore
Max Murai opened the season doing the same thing at which he excelled as a freshman -- turning in consistently solid rounds. The left-hander shot 73 (+1) in round one and 75 (+3) in round two, contributing to the team total both times and finishing in a tie for 20th place at 148 (+4).
The veteran of the group, junior
Jonathan Mulvany, stumbled to an 80 (+8) on Monday. But after making seven bogeys and a double-bogey in the opening round, he bounced back to card just one bogey in an outstanding second round. Mulvany's 71 (-1) on Tuesday was the team's second-lowest score behind Barnett, and it vaulted him all the way up to a share of 29th place overall at 151 (+7).
It was the opposite story for newcomer
Greg Smith, who played a strong round to open his Pioneer career with a 74 (+2) in the first round. But he stumbled in round two, making a few doubles and finishing with an 80 (+8) to place him in a tie for 38th individually at 154 (+10).
The Pioneers continue their Fall schedule next week, when the team travels down to Seaside for Cal State Monterey Bay's annual Otter Invitational at Black Horse Golf Club.
