With the departure of its top four players statistically and its head coach, the Chico State men's golf team needed a steadying influence in its first event of the season. Colby Dean not only steadied the ship, he steered it into the winners' circle.
Dean, the longest tenured Wildcat, opened the first tournament of the season with a career-best round of 68, and followed it up with a second-round 72. He finished second overall at 2-under par in the 96-player field, and the 5th-ranked Wildcats finished six shots clear of runner-up Cal State Monterey Bay, ranked 10th.
A junior from Eagle, Idaho, Dean is our Wildcat of the week. His previous career-low round in 16 previous collegiate events was a 69 and his previous best tournament finish was third.
Dean's 3-under par 68 in Monday's first round on the par-71, 6,300-yard layout, was especially impressive considering the weather, which featured cold wind and rain throughout the day.
Dean and the Wildcats are currently shooting for two wins in a row at the Western Washington Invitational at Bellingham Golf and Country Club in Bellingham, Washington, Monday and Tuesday.
They'll play their lone home event next Monday and Tuesday – The InterWest Insurance Wildcat Classic – at Butte Creek Country Club.
