Hunter Robinson of UC Santa Barbara captured the individual title and helped the Gauchos win the OGIO-UCSB Intercollegiate at Sandpiper Golf Club in Santa Barbara.
It was the first time Santa Barbara claimed the title in the tournament it hosts since 1991, and Robinson was the first Gaucho to take the individual crown since Derek Gilchrist won that same year.
Robinson, a senior from Coppell, Texas, made a clutch par on the final hole to finish at 71-72-70–213, 3-under-par, to win by one stroke over David Gazzolo of UC Riverside, who carded a score of 74-72-68–214.
“(Robinson) was in the leader group at Fresno State last year, so that might have helped prepare him for this,” Coach Steve Lass of UC Santa Barbara said. “This is the first time he’s been in the lead coming down the stretch.
“I know he was nervous, but he hit some phenomenal shots and made some key putts in the final round. To win the first time you’re in contention is big. This might be the first golf tournament he’s ever won and I am very happy for him.”
Sam Gillis of UC Riverside shot 75-69-71–215 and tied for third with Ryder Epson of Long Beach State, who finished at 78-68-69–215, while Zach Smith of UC Santa Barbara totaled 73-72-72–217 to tie for fifth with Kyle Mitsunaga of Boise State, who wound up at 76-69-72–217, and Brandon Kida of Utah, who came in at 72-75-70–217.
Joey Varnam of Cal State Northridge posted a score of 71-76-72–219 and tied for eighth with Ty Travis of Utah State, who finished at 77-73-69–219, and Jose Pelayo of Utah, who wound up at 75-71-73–219.
Nathan Green led Cal State Bakersfield in a tie for 16th at 77-75-73–225.
UC Santa Barbara won for the first time this season by posting a score of 291-291-292–874, 10-over par, followed by UC Riverside at 294-292-290–876, Boise State at 300-292-287–879, and Utah at 295-294-293–882.
“I thought we did a great job of holding on down the stretch,” Lass said of the Gauchos, who played with only four players after Will Straus withdrew following the first round because of a back injury.
“It’s really tough to win a tournament, and especially when it’s the first time its in contention. Hunter has been in contentention, but I had three freshmen who had never been in that situation, so this is a great result.”
Long Beach State was fifth at 303-291-300–894, followed by Cal State Northridge at 299-309-298–906, Northern Colorado at 292-311-305–908, and Cal State Bakersfield at 307-303-307–917.
