Results (PDF)

SEASIDE, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay men's golf team stumbled to a 17th-place finish this week at Cal State Monterey Bay's annual Otter Invitational. With rounds of 303-310-307 at Blackhorse Golf Course, the Pioneers finished the 54-hole event at 920 (+56). 

East Bay bested only Academy of Art and Hawaii Hilo in the 19-team field, and finished last of the eight California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) schools in competition. The host Otters carded a ridiculous 274 (-14) on Tuesday to pull away from the rest of the field in the final round for the team championship.

Sophomore Max Murai was CSUEB's top finisher for the week, taking a share of 33rd place in the overall field of 104 golfers. The left-hander was excellent in rounds one and three with scores of 69 (-3) and 74 (+4), but a tough second round score of 80 (+8) kept him from being near the top of the leaderboard. Murai finished at 223 (+7), 24 strokes behind individual medalist Adam Navigato of UC San Diego, who won with a tournament record total of 199 (-17).

Murai was the only Pioneer to finish in the top half of the field, as the rest of the squad had difficult avoiding bogeys in the season's second tournament. Greg Smith was outstanding Monday afternoon with an even-par 72, but he carded 77 (+5) and 81 (+9) in rounds one and three to finish tied for 66th at 230 (+14). 

Fellow newcomers Chase Wickman, Declan Illingsworth, and Will Barnett all finished within one stroke of each other, with Wickman tying for 85th place and the other two sharing 88th. Wickman carded 81-80-75, finishing strong on Tuesday for a total of 236 (+20). Illingsworth shot 80-78-79, while Barnett turned in scores of 77-81-79, putting both juniors at 237 (+21) for the tournament.

Jonathan Mulvany competed as an individual and was excellent this morning with a 74 (+2), but that wasn't enough to overcome his rounds of 79-90 on Monday and he finished in a tie for 98th place at 243 (+27). 

The Pioneers now have one week off to get things in order before traveling to Florida to continue their Fall schedule at Nova Southeastern's Miami Intercollegiate on Oct. 30-31.