RENO, Nev.----- San Jose State University's best five-player team score in two years, a 12-under par 276, propelled the Spartans to a fifth-place finish at the 54-hole Wolf Pack Classic men's golf tournament.
In a two-day tournament played in snowy conditions on day one, the Spartans and 13 other teams saw sunshine with low 50 degree temperatures at the par 72 Hidden Valley Country Club on the final day.
After finishing its final four to six holes of the second round, San Jose State moved from 12th to ninth place, but the best was yet to come.
"We ran out of holes. After the first round, we got into our game and got to work. We have a lot of horsepower and when we get traction,
watch out," said San Jose State University men's golf coach John Kennaday.
"They settled in and played their game. They didn't press, didn't rush and took advantage of the opportunities in front of them. It was very maturely done," Kennaday said about the final 18 holes.
The 276 team score was the best among the 15 teams in the final round and in any of the three rounds in the tournament. San Jose State finished with an 880 total for its second fifth place finish this fall.
Carl Corpus led the way with an 18-hole major college best bogey free, seven-under par 65. Corpus birdied six of his final nine holes and was one of three players with a final round 65. He finished tied for eighth at one-under par 215.
Vijay Srinivasan was a stroke behind at even par 216 tying for 11th place – his best tournament finish as a Spartan. His final round three-under 69 included five birdies in his final nine holes and was his best San Jose State score in relation to par.
Caleb Shetler bounced back from an opening round 80 with consecutive one-under par 71's to finish at 222. He was the only Spartan with two rounds under par and provided the third counting score to the team's 12-under par 276.
Freshman Nick Watts capped off the team scoring matching Shetler's 71. Watts, too, showed his resiliency bouncing back from a disastrous opening round 83 with a 73 and 71 for a 227 total and a 48th place tie.
Kristopher Stiles rounded out San Jose State squad with a two-over 74 and a 239 total. He, too, improved each round after starting with an 85.
Albert Boneta of New Mexico captured medalist honors with a six-under par 210 total. Only 10 players in the 80-player field finished under par.
New Mexico, the only team under par for all three rounds, won the team championship with an 850 total. The University of San Francisco was second at 854. Host Nevada at 877 and UCLA at 878 also finished ahead of San Jose State.
The Spartans conclude their fall schedule October 21 through 23 at the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational in Stockton, Calif.
Final 54-hole results from the Wolf Pack Classic
Hidden Valley Country Club, reno, Nev.
Par 72, 7,302 yards
| Team scores |
|
| 1. New Mexico |
850 |
| 2. San Francisco |
854 |
| 3. Nevada |
877 |
| 4. UCLA |
878 |
| 5. San Jose State |
880 |
| 6. UC Davis |
882 |
| UNLV |
882 |
| 8. Saint Mary's |
884 |
| 9. Long Beach State |
885 |
| LMU |
885 |
| 11. San Diego |
887 |
| 12. Brigham Young |
894 |
| 13. Fresno State |
903 |
| Nevada "B" |
903 |
| 15. Air Force |
929 |
| Leading individuals |
|
| 1. Albert Boneta, New Mexico |
70-71-69=210 |
| 2. Thomas Hutchinson, UC Davis |
75-71-65=211 |
| Sam Choi, New Mexico |
71-73-67=211 |
| 4. Alex Chin, San Francisco |
72-73-67=212 |
| Matthew Anderson, San Francisco |
70-73-69=212 |
