Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
OGIO Santa Barbara Intercollegiate
Bulldogs Match Best Finish of Season
3/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
March 29, 2011
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State men's golf team tied its best finish of the season by claiming third at the OGIO-Santa Barbara Intercollegiate held at the 7,068-yard, par-72 Sandpiper Golf Course in Goleta, Calif. The Bulldogs' other third place finishes came at the Wolf Pack Classic and UOP Invitational last fall.
Fresno State's (298-294-293--885, +21) one shot improvement on its second round score gave the team the second lowest round of the final day. The Dogs, who entered action Monday with the most birdies in the nation (according to Golfstat.com) with 458, sunk the third most (39) during the tournament.
Junior Bhavik Patel fired a 2-under, 70 to climb up to a tie for third place with a 3-under, 213, only one shot behind co-champions Daniel Miernicki and Jack Dukeminier of Oregon. Patel (71-72-70--213) also entered play leading the nation in birdies with 114 and added 14 more which tied him for the tournament high.
Patel's final round 70 was the second lowest score of the day. Bhavik finished second in Par 5 scoring (4.42, -7) and tied for fourth in Par 4 scoring (3.97, -1).
Brad Wyatt, a senior from La Verne, Calif., demolished his previous best finish of the season by tying for 13th place at 4-over, 220. His previous best was 31st place two weeks ago at the San Diego Intercollegiate.
"Bhavik and Brad seem to both have their games back again," head coach Mike Watney said. "That will help us immensely as we look forward to a strong finish for the NCAA championships."
Wyatt (76-72-72--220) matched his low round of the season for the second day in a row and third time in his last four rounds by shooting a 72. Wyatt also made it in the Top 10 for both Par 4 (4.07, +2) and Par 5 (4.75, -3) scoring during the tournament.
Junior Brian Sunker (75 75 76 226, +10) tied for 25th while Nate Jessup (76-80-75--231, +15) and Michael Gideon (76-75-80--231, +15) both finished in 47th place.
Oregon (274-287-291--852, -12) cruised to the tournament title by finishing 27 shots ahead of second place finisher Santa Barbara (288-292-299--879, +15). Fresno State entered the final round 12 shots behind UCSB but was able close within six strokes.
The Bulldogs have a week off before they return to action April 15-16 to compete in the BYU Cougar Classic.
"We Are Your Team!" Fresno State men's golf resumes play April 15-16 for the BYU Cougar Classic held at Riverside Country Club in Provo, Utah.
Players Mentioned
