Men's Golf | 2/13/2024 3:12:00 PM

VISTA - After a n opening two rounds on Monday in Vista leaving Chico State in good position for the final round, the Wildcats were able to finish strong in the final round of the Fujikura Invitational to finish in a tie for second place with Cal State Monterey Bay at a 2-under 862 team score. Naoki Easterday built upon his momentum from the second round on Monday, jumping into a solo third-place finish in Vista, carding a 5-under 211 through fifty-six holes.

The final round proved to be a better day for the Wildcats squad across the board, with Tyler Ashman, Dakota Ochoa, and Easterday, all carding 2-under 70 rounds to bring their team total to even par on the day. Chico State was one of only two teams to finish on a positive note in the final round; the only other team was the Pioneers of Cal State East Bay, the squad that scooped up the tournament win.

Easterday was the only Wildcat to finish without a round over par, only carding two bogeys on his final round on the 15th and 18th hole, but his four birdies covered the blemishes. 

One of the three Wildcats to record under-par rounds, senior Tyler Ashman, salvaged his first spring tournament by carding a 2-under 70 total of 217. Ashman, the number one on the Wildcats roster, showed his composure and ability to claw back from less-than-favorable starts.

Finishing in a tie for 23rd, Dakota Ochoa had some work on Tuesday to finish in a favorable position for his team, carding an under-par round after the final eighteen holes with a 2-under 70. Ochoa tallied the most birdies of the Wildcats squad in the final round with five total, three coming in successive holes in the front nine.

Ochoa was one of the top-scoring leaders on par 5's throughout the tournament at 6-under, finding trouble on Shadowridge's par four holes.

Travis Miller ran into trouble early with two bogeys on the 8th and 9th holes, then into a double bogey to start the turn. After teeing off the final round at even-par, Miller fell into a tie for 30th with a carded total of 222. Despite the round, his strong start to the tournament helped him boost his team into a favorable finish at the top.

Giuliano Kaminski finished in 48th following a final round that did not quite fall in place in Vista, carding a 228 after Tuesday.

After a tie at the top of the leaderboard at 7-under through three rounds, Chris Chomyn of Stanislaus State won the playoff hole against the host team's number three golfer, Greg Mouser. 

With the first spring tournament behind them, the Chico State Wildcats will return to San Diego County at Rams Hill Golf Course in Borrego Springs on February 26th & 27th. 

CLICK HERE for the entire list of results from the Fujikura Inviational hosted by Cal State San Marcos.