The Chico State men’s golf team hosted its only home tournament this year with the 2015 Interwest Wildcat Classic and almost came away with a first place victory. They lost a late round lead and finished at 9-over par, finishing in second place to Cal State University San Marcos, who scored a 3-over par and won the tournament.
Senior golfer, Alistair Docherty: Chico State senior golfer Alistair Docherty sinks a bogey put on the fifth hole at the Interwest Wildcat Classic.
First-year golfer, Matt Hutchins: Chico State first-year golfer Matt Hutchins looking to make par as he putts on the fifth hole at the Interwest Wildcat Classic.
Day 1
On the first day of the tournament, Chico State finished in first place with a score of 2-under par, and posting round scores of 282 and 292. Two-time defending California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year Lee Gearhart finished the first day at 3-under par and second place behind Cal State San Marcos’ Dylan Healey and Simon Fraser’s Chris Crisologo. Fellow Wildcats Alistair Docherty and Justin Willes both finished off the day at 2-over par and 2-under par.
Day 2
Gearhart started the second day off with a bang as he birdied four of his first eight holes to capture the lead halfway through the final round. The two-time All-American held the lead all the way until the par-3 17th when he double-bogeyed. Gearhart lost the lead and bogeyed the final hole, sealing his fate. He finished the tournament with a score of 2-under par and tying for second place with Ty Macias and Mark Milton of Dominican, California. Wiles finished in a tie for fifth place with Chris Crisologo at 1-under par, while Docherty posted a score of 5-over par ending in a five-way tie for 15th. The Wildcats now have placed second in their last two tournaments after winning their first.
The Big Three
1. Lee Gearhart, senior: Finished in second place at 2-under par shooting a 214 and scoring rounds of 65, 76 and 73.
2. Justin Wiles, senior: Finished in fifth place at 1-under par shooting a 215 and scoring rounds of 73, 69 and 73.
3. Alistair Docherty, senior: Finished in 15th place at 5-over par shooting a 221 and scoring rounds of 71, 75 and 75.
The Wildcats e will be back in action on Monday, Oct. 19 as they travel to Seaside, California for the Otter Invitational.
Jason Spies can be reached at [email protected] or @Jason_Spies on Twitter.
