The UCSD golf team finished fifth in a field of 11 teams in the Chico State Invitational, which took place Oct. 13 and Oct. 14 at the Butte Creek Country Club in Chico, Calif.
“”The weather was absolutely perfect; we couldn’t have asked for anything better,”” head coach Mike Wydra said. “”Butte Creek is a nice old country club with a lot of trees, and it features very fast, small, undulating greens.””
The Tritons are off to a great start this year, coming off a second-place finish at their first tournament of the season.
“”We’re a little bit older, and a little bit wiser this year. We’re a veteran team with lots of experience, as well as a few strong newcomers who will start playing soon,”” Wydra said.
As a team, UCSD finished the tournament with a score of 891, or 27 over par. They shot 298, 296 and 297, respectively, in their three rounds of play.
Tournament host Chico State finished first in the invitational, greatly aided by its No. 1 golfer J.J. Jakovac, who shot a three-round total of 208, putting him at 8 under par. As a team, Chico State shot a total score of 856, or 8 under the course par of 864.
Cal State Bakersfield took second place with a total of 866, or 2 over par. University of Hawaii-Hilo came in third with a score of 877, putting them at 13 over par. Cal State Stanislaus finished fourth at the tournament, posting a score of 882, or 18 over par.
Western Washington took sixth place with a three-round total of 892, putting them at 28 over par, and one behind UCSD. The Tritons had never beat Western Washington before their first tournament of the year, and this marked UCSD’s second victory against them.
“”Western Washington finished 11th in Nationals last year, and so far this year we’re 2-0 against them,”” Wydra said.
Cal State Monterey Bay came in seventh place, shooting a score of 893, 29 over par. Holy Names College followed in eighth with 35-over-par 889.
Saint Marin’s College, Notre Dame de Namur and Sonoma State rounded out the ninth, 10th and 11th finishers in the invitational, shooting three round totals of 900, 928 and 950, respectively.
Individually, the Tritons were led by junior Brian Duckworth, who shot rounds of 71, 74 and 72, respectively, to finish with a score of 217, one over par. Duckworth came in ninth place overall in the invitational.
“”Brian had a late double bogey,”” Wydra said. “”Had he parred that hole, he would have finished in a tie for second place.””
Senior Alan Scheer finished in second on the team, and tied for 15th overall in the tournament, shooting rounds of 75, 72 and 73, respectively, for a 4-over 220.
“”Alan had a great summer, and qualified to compete in the U.S. Amateurs tournament,”” Wydra said. “”He really raised the bar for the rest of the team, and is acting as a strong team leader.””
Junior Eugene Itkin came in third for UCSD, shooting a total score of 228, or 12 over par. Itkin tied for 38th in the tournament, with scores of 77, 77 and 74, respectively.
Finishing fourth for the Tritons was junior Joe Dolby, who finished with a three round total of 229, or 13 over par. He shot rounds of 75, 76 and 78, respectively, and tied for 43rd in the invitational.
Rounding out the squad for UCSD was junior Jan Godoski, who tied for a 57th place finish in the tournament. His round scores of 85, 74 and 78 gave him a total of 237, 21 over par.
“”We’re trying not to get too amped,”” Wydra said. “”This is the kind of schedule and kind of start that a team that goes to the nationals has.””
UCSD’s last tournament of this calendar year is the Elco Invitational, which takes place in Bakersfield, Calif., on Oct. 27 to Oct. 28.
