Men’s golf travels to Orange County, finishes fifth

Clifton Jones

Sacramento State men’s golf traveled to Laguna Niguel, Calif. to compete in the Anteater Invitational. where it finished fifth place with a 46-over-par 303-298-309, 906 score. 

Senior Ryan Williams had the win in arms reach, but failed to bring it in. 

“This tournament was more frustrating to me because during the others I didn’t really have that much of a chance to win,” Williams said. “I beat myself with the poor shot decisions that cost a chance to win today.” 

Williams started off the third round only two shots behind the leader, but finished the tournament tied for third place.. He was able to put together a solid 54-hole total 3-over-par 70-75-74, 219 and said that the El Niguel golf course was not as difficult as some of the scores indicated. 

“The course had some easy holes that you were able to make some good shots,” Williams said. “However, there were holes that had plenty of potential disaster shots.”

Williams looks back at this tournament in an optimistic view in the way he performed and the way his team competed. 

“It was not too bad today for us,” Williams said. “I was able to finish tied for fourth and the team was able to finish fifth overall.” 

Junior Owen Taylor also really struggled in the first and third rounds shooting a 78 and 79 respectively, but he improved in the second round by only shooting a 73 1-over-par. 

Taylor finished the weekend with a three round total of 78-73-79, 230 and tied for 28th place. 

Junior Jordan Weir finished in 30th place; he is the third golfer for the Hornets to finish in the top 30. Weir was able to score well this week with a 15-over-par 80-74-77, 231. 

Sac State was not the only team that struggled with the course today, Williams believes that other teams were facing the same difficulties. 

“Our issues are probably what the whole field was going through most likely,” Williams said. “You really had to drive the ball well, if not you needed to play catch up.”

Sac State will compete again on April 19-21 as it travels to the Winchester Classic in Meadow View, Calif.  

 

Clifton can be reached on Twitter at @jonesSHsports