OAKLAND, Calif. – Men's golf went to work at the Tim Tierney Shootout, netting rounds of 294-287-292 to finish 10th place out of the 18 competing teams. The Blue and Gold were led by
Tyler Williams and his red-hot second-round display at Corica Park. Winning the shootout was the hosting #19 CSU East Bay, who outdid Colorado Christian, going 15 under par and boasting an 849 (283-284-282) team score. Santa Clara's Tucker Sweeney was the individual champion by one stroke, jumping a staggering 24 places after going nine under par on his final round (72-71-63).
The Course: The 18-hole course was established in 1927 and features three main courses, with the South Course acting as the staging grounds for the tournament. Designed by renowned architect Rees Jones, the South Course is one of California's best-kept secrets. Named the12th Best Municipal Course in America in 2021 by GOLF Magazine, this Australian Sandbelt style course features expansive and rolling fairways with fun risk-reward options for imaginative shot-making. Its 6,874-yard bandwidth was built using eco-green, climate-sustainable grass and holds more dog legs and water features than some of its counterparts.
What Happened? Williams was just +1 on day one and laid out a clinical showing in his second round to climb quickly up the ranks. Williams went five under par (67) thanks to six birdies and 11 pars. His momentum carried him through the remainder of the leave the shootout with a total score of 217, which was tied 28th. Williams also tied third on par-three holes (2.75, -3), had 12 birdies, and mounted a team-best 33 pars.
The remaining four Lion competitors were landlocked in the rankings, just one stroke separating the pack. The trio of
Fisher Ransom,
Kyle Koski, and
Charles Gulbe were sandwiched in a tie for 57th, sporting net scores of 222 (+6). Ransom did his best work in his first run through the South Course, closing in on six birdies with a round one score of 68. Koski was the opposite, marking five birdies on the last round, including two in a row, to hover at +1 over his last two rounds. The pair of Ransom and Koski were both tied seventh at the shootout on par-fives (4.50, -6) and also had 10 birdies each. Ransom went for 31 pars compared to Koski, who had 32 pars. Koski also went +1 on par-three holes, which was second best among Vanguard competitors.
Gulbe was the last member in the landlocked trifecta. He jumped up 18 spots after to go level with Ransom and Koski, going even on his second round (72), then going one under-par on the final day. Gulbe had 27 pars and 12 birdies, staking six on day two.
Alexander Elia was just one stroke behind the Lion trio, going +7 (223). His 31 pars were layered on the third round, where he had 12, while his eight birdies were split more evenly throughout the shootout.
As a team, Vanguard was second on par three holes (3.08, +5), tied third in par fives (4.62, -23), and tied third in birdies with 52.
What's Next? Men's golf will compete at the Dominican Spring Invite in Sonoma on April 6-7.
