MARYSVILLE—The title "Chico State Invitational" doesn't have an asterisk next to it. If it did, it might signify that it's not just an invitation to play, but also an invitation to get beat by the Wildcats. That's what tends to happen, anyway. For the seventh time in 14 years it has hosted the event, Chico State won the team title Tuesday at Peach Tree Golf and Country Club, finishing 20-under par to beat Simon Fraser by one stroke and Sonoma State by two in a back-and-forth, thrilling final round.
 
Freshman Ben Mouser came up big with birdies on two of his final three holes, and Mark Noonan buried a birdie putt on his final hole of the day as the Wildcats rallied late. The win was a full team effort though. After shooting consecutive 67s to lead the team into contention on Monday, Tyler Ashman posted the drop score Tuesday as Noonan shot 3-under, Naoki Easterday 1-under, and Mouser and Dakota Ochoa even par.
 
Noonan tied for fourth among individuals at 9-under par with three straight 69s, while Ashman finished sixth at -8. Sonoma State's Griffin Pace won medalist honors at 11-under par (66-66-73), holding off Stanislaus State's Chris Ebster and Holy Names' Luke Dugger by a shot.
 
Chico State's "B" team also played well Tuesday, carding a 1-under par effort, paced by Travis Miller's 69. Giacomo Sorrentino and Landon Williams were each 1-under.
 
Miller finished in a tie for 13^th place overall at 4-under, while Easterday finished 15^th at -3. Sorrentino tied for 22^nd at +1, Williams and Mouser tied for 26^th at +2, Ochoa and Kaminski tied for 35^th at +4, and Brayden Russo finished 59^th at +18.
 
The Wildcats will be back in action next Monday and Tuesday at the Otter Invitational at Bayonet Golf Club in Seaside.
 
Wildcat Classic History

2022 (Peach Tree Golf & Country Club)
Team Champion: Chico State (-20)
Medalist: Matthew Watkins, Academy of Art (+2)
 
2021 (The Links at Rolling Hills)
(36 holes, final round canceled due to high winds)
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 State (+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, Chico State (-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)