VISTA—The weather conditions Tuesday in Southern California were hardly ideal for a spirited 18 holes of golf. Cold temperatures, off-and-on drizzle, and strong winds hampered Tuesday's final round of the Fujikura Invitational, and the player's scores reflected the elemental challenge at Vista's Shadowridge Golf Club. The Chico State men's golf team fought through the unpleasant weather and was able to put up a respectable third round score of 15-over par 303, finishing 11th overall with a 72-hole total of 43-over 907.
The weather definitely played a factor during the early morning portion of the round, as both Dakota Ochoa and Tyler Ashman scuffled on their first several holes.
Ochoa, who entered Tuesday's final 18 in seventh place on the individual leader board, was 8-over par through his first five holes, but recovered to play 1-over the rest of the way, wrapping up the round at 9-over 81. Ochoa's two-day total of 8-over 224 was good for 28th place overall.
Ashman shook off his slow start by playing 1-over par through his last 13 holes to card a 5-over 77 Tuesday, earning a share of 30th place with a 72-hole score of 10-over 226.
Naoki Easterday, on the other hand, delivered his best round of the Fujikura Invitational Tuesday, scoring a pair of birdies and playing even par through his first 12 holes to finish at 2-over par 74. Easterday placed 51st in the 70-player field with a three-round score of 17-over 233.
Giacomo Sorrentino also collected two birdies and also shot a 74 in the tournament's final round. Playing in just his second tournament this season, Sorrentino finished the 72-hole Fujikura Invitational in 53rd place at 20-over 236.
Mark Noonan got off to a fast start Tuesday, and was sitting at 2-under par through his first seven holes. Noonan wasn't able to maintain that pace, however, and finished the third round with a 6-over 78 to earn a share of 57th place with a final score of 238.
Host school Cal State San Marcos won top team honors at the Fujikura Invitational, posting a 72-hole score of 9-over par 873, good for a two-stroke victory over second place Colorado State-Pueblo (11-over 875). Western Washington (879), Cal State San Bernardino (880), and Sonoma State (888) rounded out the top five.
First day leader Matt Millar shot an even par 72 to register a seven stroke victory, finishing atop the individual leader board with a three-round score of 9-under 207.
The Chico State men's golf team resumes action in two weeks, when the Wildcats return to Southern California February 27–28 to take part in the Cal State San Bernardino-hosted Battle in the Desert, taking place at the PGA West Resort Mountain Course in La Quinta.
