The seventh-ranked Wildcats came back from the Coyote Classic in San Bernardino this week with another notch on their belt.

The ’Cats were able to make a late push for first place and ended up with a finish of 15-over 855 (840). Sophomore Lee Gearhart earned an individual medal shooting a 68, the only participant to score below par in the final round and finished one under par. Chico State also beat its California Collegiate Athletic Association rival in No. 4 ranked Cal State Monterey Bay by 7 strokes.

Gearhart earned his first win of his collegiate career and became the third ’Cat to win the Coyote Classic in four years joining alumni Eric Frazzetta and Kyle Souza.

However, it didn’t look good for him in the late part of the final round. The sophomore started the final part of the tournament in seventh place, down nine strokes to Cal State Stanislaus’ Trevor Clayton. By the end of the day, Gearhart beat him respectively by two strokes to assist in the Wildcats’ big finish.

Chico State’s Chris Doyle, Alistair Docherty and Justin Wiles also came in clutch for the ’Cats on the final day. Doyle shot a 74, while both Docherty and Wiles tied at 75. This put Docherty in a tie at fourth place, which was only five shots behind Gearhart and Doyle tied for sixth.

The Wildcats will head to Elk Grove March 3-March 4 for the Sacramento State Intercollegiate Cup.

Lee Masten can be reached at [email protected] or @lee23masten on Twitter.