Men’s golf comes up shy in spring season opener

State Hornet Staff

Sacramento State men’s golf finished tied for second behind Long Beach State at the Anteater Invitational in Irvine on Tuesday. Sac State finished the invitational 21-over-par, 288-293-292-873.

The Hornets had four of their five golfers finish in the top 25 individually, including seniors Owen Taylor and Jordan Weir, junior Luke Kristo and freshman Cody Bates.

Taylor scored the lowest overall for the Hornets in the two-day tournament as he finished tied for fourth. He came into the last day of the tournament three shots off the lead, but it was an uphill battle after he bogeyed on four of the first 10 holes.

Taylor bounced back in the last nine holes, three birdies and only one bogey, finishing the last day of the tournament 1-over-par.

Even though the lowest overall score for the Hornets came from Taylor, Kristo stood out on Tuesday as he finished with a 1-under-par final round. Kristo’s only blemish on Tuesday was the bogey and double bogey he received on the third and 16th holes.

Kristo finished the tournament 2-over-par, 69-76-70-215.

Weir, who finished in 14th place, bounced back in the second round with an even par after finishing the first round with a 5-over-par score. Tuesday was not too much better for Weir as he finished with a 2-over-par 73.

The senior finished the invitational with a 7-over-par, 76-71-73-220; seven birdies, eight bogeys and three double-bogeys.

Bates, who was the second golfer to tee-off on Monday, was uncharacteristic in his first tournament back of the spring season by finishing the tournament 11-over-par, 72-75-77-224. He could not find the bottom of the cup as he had twice as many bogeys than birdies – 14 bogeys and seven birdies.

Junior Riley Hayfield also had a hard time putting a solid round together as his first two rounds started off with double-bogeys. Hayfield finished in 39th place with a score of 20-over-par, 79-77-77-233.

Sac State will take two weeks off and travel to a 2-day Folino Invitational in Industry Hills, Calif. on Feb. 17.

Clifton Jones can be reached on Twitter @SH_Sports