CORNING—The wind was still whipping. Just not quite as hard. Stanislaus State took advantage to shoot a tournament-best round of even par and maintain its grasp on the lead and win the Wildcat Classic by nine shots over Western Washington Tuesday at The Links at Rolling Hills in Corning. The Warriors finished 21 over par and the Vikings +30. Academy of Art finished third at 42-over par, Sonoma State (+48) was fourth, and Chico State and Cal State Monterey Bay tied for fifth at 49 over.
 
Academy of Art's Matthew Watkins earned medalist honors as the top individual, shooting 2-over par Tuesday and 2-over for the tournament. Watkins shot even par Monday—three shots better than anyone else in the 62-player field—and birdied the 590-yard par-5 18^th Tuesday to secure the one-shot win over runner-up Brad Sparrer of Stanislaus State.
 
Sustained winds of 15 miles per hour kicked up about one third of the way into the round and gusts blew in the high 20s. But that was preferable to Monday's sustained winds of 20-plus miles per hour and gusts of more than 40.
 
Tournament host Chico State provided a good illustration of how much a difference a day made. The Wildcats shot a 303 Tuesday, which was 19 better than they fared Monday. However, that was only seventh best in terms of strokes improved in the 10-team field, and not enough to keep pace with their competitors. Montana State Billings was 40 shots better, Holy Names 36, Cal State Monterey Bay 29, Western Washington 28, Sonoma State 24 and Stanislaus State 21.
 
Chico State's Chris Colla, defending Wildcat Classic champion, made an early run at medalist honors, shooting 1-under through nine to pull to within two shots, but two bogeys and a double over a four-hole stretch ended his medalist hopes. Colla still finished with one of the better rounds of the day at 1-over par, and tied for fourth place at 6-over par. Mark Noonan and Michael Stephens (both 3-over Tuesday and +11 overall) tied for 15^th, giving the Wildcats two more players inside the top 20.
 
Wildcat Classic History
 
2021 (The Links at Rolling Hills)
Team Champion: Stanislaus State (+21)
Medalist: Matthew Watkins, Academy of Art (+2)

2019 (Butte Creek Country Club)
Team Champion: Sonoma State (-5)
Medalist: Chris Colla, Chico State (-8)
 
2017 (The Links at Rolling Hills)
Team Champion: Chico State (-8)
Medalist: Colby Dean, Chico State (-7)
 
2016 (Butte Creek Country Club)
Team Champion: Chico State (+13)—won drop score tiebreaker vs. Western Washington
Medalist: Nic Beno, Colorado School of Mines (-2)
 
2015 (Butte Creek Country Club)
Team Champion: Cal State San Marcos (+3)
Medalist: Dylan Healey, Cal State San Marcos (-5)
 
2014 (Butte Creek Country Club)
Team Champion: Chico State (+1)
Medalist: Adam Stone, Cal State East Bay (-10)
 
2013 (The Links at Rolling Hills)
Team Champion: Chico State (-5)
Medalist: Ricky Owaki, Chico State (-7)
 
2012 (The Links at Rolling Hills)
Team Champion: Stanislaus State (-9)
Medalist: Rob Damschen, Stanislaus State (-7)
 
2011 (The Links at Rolling Hills)
Team Champion: Chico State (+30)
Medalist: Kyle Souza, Chico (+4)
 
2010 (Butte Creek Country Club)
Team Champion: Western Washington (+16)
Medalist: John Jackson, Cal State Monterey Bay (-2). Won 3-man playoff against Kenny Pigman (Cal State San Bernardino) and Matt Epstein (Saint Martin's)
 
2009 (Butte Creek Country Club)
(36 holes, shortened by rain)
Team co-Champions: Chico State and Holy Names (+3)
Medalist: Sylvester Gama (-3)—Won playoff against Holy Names' Stephan Edman
 
2008 (Butte Creek Country Club)
Team Champion: Sonoma State (+9)
Medalist: Jarin Todd, Sonoma State (-2)
 
2007 (Butte Creek Country Club)
Team Champion: Wayland Baptist (+22)
Medalist: Michael Loppnow, Wayland Baptist (+2)