ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Long Beach State Men’s Golf had the best final round of the 18 teams at the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate, 11-under par as a team to climb three spots and open the season with back-to-back victories.
Final Results
Ranked No. 30 to begin the year, Long Beach State has immediately continued to impress in the early portion of the season, winning two straight tournaments to start the year for the first time in program history.
Long Beach State had two players in the Top 5 and four in the Top 20 to pull away from the hosts, New Mexico, in the end to win by six strokes over the Lobos.
“Incredible win today!” stated Rob Murray. “I’m so proud of all the guys. I’d consider this the strongest win that we’ve had in the last few years. To shoot 11-under on this course in the final against this field and not include Alejandro really showcases our depth.”
Senior Jack Cantlay had a phenomenal day, closing the tournament with a 5-under par 67, capping the day with an eagle on his final hole, the par-5 first, to climb up 24 spots on the leaderboard into a tie for fourth place overall at 7-under par. That score would match yesterday’s leader, Jaden Huggins, who also had an eagle on one on the way to a final round 70, as the duo led the way at 7-under.
Sophomore Krishnav Chopraa also had a very low score on Saturday, adding an eagle on nine with three birdies on the day for a 3-under par 69, climbing into a tie for 19th place overall in the tournament.
Steen Zeman’s consistent play continued, as the graduate finished the tournament with a final-day 71 to tie for 11th overall, 5-under par, as Long Beach State’s depth truly showed on the final day. Alejandro de Castro Piera shot 72 for the third straight round, finishing as the team’s drop score at even par, again highlighting the strength of the day for the Beach.
Competing as an individual, Tiger Tahvildari also had his best round of the tournament, wrapping his time in New Mexico with a 2-under par 70.
The win was historic in a number of ways. The victory was just the fifth time in program history Long Beach State has recorded back-to-back victories. It also marks the tenth season ever that the Beach has won multiple events, including the last four consecutively under Rob Murray, with the rest of a promising year still to come.
Long Beach State will return to action in a little over a week, competing at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational starting on Monday, September 29.
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