Bill Cullum Invt'l: Hosts win for 1st time
Medalist (ASU photo)
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (Oct. 28, 2008) - For the first time in the 13-year history of the Cal State Northridge Bill Cullum Invitational, the Matadors came away with the team title as they carded team rounds of 276-284-293 to hold off Loyola Marymount and Long Beach State at Wood Ranch G.C.
Northridge, which held a five-shot lead after one round and a six-shot lead after the second round on Monday, carded a final round 293 to hold off a charging Loyola Marymount team which fired the low team round (286) on Tuesday.
The Matadors finished at 853, the Lions were two shots back at 855 and Long Beach State was four back at 857. Cal State San Bernadino (872) was fourth and North Texas (875) rounded out the top five teams in the 12-team field. In all 82 players competed in the two-day Invitational.
Northridge's team score of 853 is the second-lowest in the tournament's history behind the 845 Saint Mary's carded in 2004.
"It's really great to finally win our own tournament," said Northridge head coach Jim Bracken. "I can't explain it but for some reason we've never really played well at our tournament."
Individually, the Matadors' Erik Jarvey came within one putt of forcing a playoff with Arizona State's Tristan Bierenbroodspot. Jarvey missed a short birdie putt on the 18th green and finished with a final round 71 (-1) and a three round 207 (-9). Bierenbroodspot, who was tied for the lead after two rounds, also fired a final round 71 to finish at 206 (-10) and claim individual medalist honors.
Juniors Casey Piper and Jeff Freund also posted top-15 finishes as both tied for 14th at 215 (-1). Piper posted a final round 75 (+3) to complete rounds of 72-68-75 while Freund posted a final round 73 (+1) to finish with consistent rounds of 70-72-73. Senior Clint Oleson finished tied for 30th at 221 (+5) after rounds of 68-74-79 and sophomore Nick Delio rounded out the scoring after a final round 74 left him in 34th-place at 223 (+7).
The Matador black team was led by junior Satch Hermann who finished tied for 41st at 225 (+9) after rounds of 73-73-79. The other scorers for the black team were Greg Gauvin who finished tied for 52nd at 228 (+12), Jason Rosenkranz who finished 54th at 229 (+13), Shane Blanchard who finished tied for 61st at 233 (+17) and Arthur Chung who finished 71st at 237 (+21).
Cal State Northridge's previous best finish in the Bill Cullum Invitational was a sixth-place finish in 2005.
"This is a great win for our program and it's especially nice to win it in front of some family and friends," added Bracken.