Results (PDF)

ST. GEORGE, Utah -- The Cal State East Bay men's golf team turned in identical rounds of 290 (+2) on back-to-back days to finish ninth out of 27 teams this week at the NCAA DII Regional Preview tournament, hosted by Dixie State.

The Pioneers' 36-hole total of 580 (+4) was good enough to beat 18 teams at the par-72 Ledges Golf Club, the same course that will host NCAA West/South-Central Regionals in May. Regis (+2), Western Washington (+1), and conference rival Sonoma State (E) were all just a few strokes better than the Pioneers, finishing sixth through eighth. Chico State ran away with the team title at 25 strokes under par.

All five East Bay golfers notched solid performances, resulting in two strong team efforts. On Monday, senior Declan Illingsworth led the way with a two-under-par round of 70. Fellow senior Will Barnett shot even-par 72, and junior Max Murai was just a stroke back at 73 (+1). Greg Smith added the fourth score to CSUEB's team total with a 75 (+3).

Newcomer Joey Herrera stumbled a bit in the opening round, carding 79 (+7). But the junior returned to the impressive form he had shown in his first two tournaments by firing a 70 (-2) on Tuesday to lead the Pioneers in the second round. Herrera's overall total of 149 (+5) earned him a share of 69th place individually.

Barnett posted another excellent performance on day two of the event, making seven birdies on his way to a 71 (-1). The left-hander was East Bay's top individual for the week, tying for 24th place in the overall field of 135 golfers with a total of 143 (-1).

Illingsworth finished just one stroke behind his Aussie teammate in a tie of 27th place at 144 (E) after following up his first-round 70 with a 74 (+2) on Tuesday. Murai turned in a 76 (+4) in round two, ending up even with Herrera in 69th place at 149 (+5) overall. 

Smith was the most consistent Pioneer of the week, notching his second straight 75 (+3) on Tuesday afternoon to earn a share of 79th place with a total of 150 (+6). 

The Pioneers have had an impressive Fall through three tournaments, suggesting they have the ability to be a contender in the CCAA and the Region when the Spring rolls around. They have one more event on their slate before the Winter break, traveling next week to Seaside for the annual Cal State Monterey Bay Otter Invitational.