The Cal State Bakersfield golf team held on for dear life to capture its first-ever California Collegiate Athletic Association golf championship last Tuesday afternoon at the Diablo Grande Country Club in Patterson.
Leading No.1-ranked UC Davis by nine strokes entering the day’s final round, CSUB shot a respectable six-over par 294, and that was just enough to forge a tie with Davis, which recorded the low round of the tournament with a 285 Tuesday. With the teams tied, the championship was decided by a card-off of each team’s No. 5 golfer. CSUB took the card-off 75-78, and with it, the title.
Senior Dan Warburton shot 75 Tuesday as the UC Davis duo of Jason Boyd and Jay Westerlund caught him for first place after 54 holes. In a three-way playoff, Warburton bogied the first hole and was eliminated. Boyd, whose 65 Tuesday was the low round of the tournament, prevailed on the second playoff hole.
In addition to Warburton, sophomore Billy Noon (Coquitlam, BC) and junior Kevin Klebe earned All-CCAA honors for their top eight finishes this week. Noon shot even par 72 Tuesday while Klebe carded a 73. Both finished tied for eighth at two-over 218.
Senior Mike Plate shot 74 Tuesday to finish 20th at 226 while Mike Applegate added a 75 Tuesday to finish 14th at 222.
Next up for the Roadrunners is the NCAA West Region Championships in Phoenix, Ariz. May 6-8.
Runner@csubak.edu