In the first event of its fall schedule, the Cal Poly men’s golf team barely finished in the top 10 of a 13-team field at the Nick Watney Invitational. With a team total of +3 the Mustangs played well enough to edge out Big West Conference rival UC Santa Barbara, but didn’t post scores low enough to contend with eventual winner Saint Mary’s (-27).
The final day was the finest for Cal Poly. Sophomore Jimmy Castles posted the Mustangs’ lowest score of the tournament with a 67 at the par 71 Fort Washington Country Club in Fresno. Fellow sophomore Jesse Yap also went low on Tuesday; the 69 he carded was his first round in the 60s of his collegiate career.
The top overall finisher for Cal Poly was senior Jordan Wright, leading the way with a -1 overall total and a tie for 24th place individually. Yap and Castles finished closely behind him with both of the sophomores tying for 28th place. Cal Poly junior and defending Big West Conference Individual Champion Justin De Los Santos finished in a tie for 44th. Pavan Sagoo from Saint Mary’s won the title with a score of -16.
This is the second year Fresno State has hosted the Nick Watney Invitational. Watney was an accomplished golfer while spending time as a Bulldog and has enjoyed similar success on the PGA Tour. The Dixon, California native is perhaps best known for winning the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral in 2011.
The Mustangs play next at the Bill Cullum Invitational on Oct. 19-20 at the Wood Ranch Country Club in Simi Valley, California.