BOULDER CITY, Nev. — The Sacramento State men's golf team was 6-under par during the final round of the Big Sky Championships and finished the three-round event at 15-under par but could not withstand a record-setting performance from Idaho on Sunday. The Vandals were 17-under during the final round and rallied from a four-shot deficit at the start of the day to win the title by seven strokes.

The Hornets' three-round total of 849 ranks as the third lowest in school history and was the team's best at a conference championship. Sacramento State finished second at the Big Sky Championships behind Idaho for the second year in a row.

Three Hornets finished among the top 10 in the tournament led by Taylor Knoll who tied for fourth. Knoll played the front nine even with bogeys on Nos. 1 and 9 and birdies on the par-5 second and par-4 fourth. He began the back nine with a birdie on the par-4 10th but double bogeyed the par-4 11th. After a par, Knoll had four birdies over his next five holes. His three-round total of 66-73-70-209 tied his career best and tied him for ninth in school history.

Aaron Beverly tied for seventh at 70-71-71-211. The junior birdied four of his first eight holes of the day and was 4-under before a double bogey on the par-4 ninth. After three pars, he birdied the par-5 13th to move to 3-under but had bogeys on Nos. 16 and 18 to conclude his round.

Robert Parden matched Beverly's score of 71. Parden recorded rounds of 71-72-71-214 to place 10th. On Sunday, he was 1-under par through five holes with birdies on Nos. 2 and 5 and a bogey on the par-4 third. He moved to 1-over after consecutive bogeys on Nos. 10 and 11 but dropped back into the red with a birdie on the par-5 13th and 16th.

Senior Owen Taylor tied for the team lead during the final round after carding a 70. He birdied the par-5 second and fifth and par-4 sixth before a bogey on the par-3 eighth left him at 2-under at the turn. A birdie on the par-4 11th came before a double bogey on the par-3 12th. From there, he posted five consecutive pars before ending with a birdie on 18. Taylor finished the tournament tied for 17th at 73-78-70-221.

Freshman Landon Azevedo's third round was highlighted by a pair of eagles but ended with a 73. Azevedo eagled the 541-yard, par-5 second and the 551-yard, par-5 13th and also had three birdies. However, he added five bogeys and a triple bogey on No. 18. He finished the tournament tied for 12th place at 68-76-73-217.

With the tournament victory, Idaho earned the automatic berth to an NCAA Regional. Sacramento State could still have individuals selected to the tournament field.

Hartford's Evan Russell was the medalist at the Big Sky Championship. The senior shot 69-70-67-206 to finish one stroke ahead of a pair of golfers.

BIG SKY CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Boulder City, Nev. | Boulder Creek GC
Par 72 | 7,211 Yards

TEAM SCORES
1. Idaho 282-289-271-842
2. SACRAMENTO STATE 275-292-282-849
3. Hartford 286-292-286-864
4. Northern Colorado 285-296-284-865
5. Weber State 291-295-293-879
6. Binghamton 300-287-295-882
7. North Dakota 292-303-290-885
8. Southern Utah 296-298-299-893

INDIVIDUAL TOP FIVE
1. Evan Russell, HART, 69-70-67-206
T2. Daniel Sutton, UI, 71-69-67-207
T2. Ryan Porch, UI, 70-72-65-207
T4. Taylor Knoll, SAC, 66-73-70-209
T4. Will Betts, HART, 71-71-67-209

SACRAMENTO STATE SCORES
T4. Taylor Knoll 66-73-70-209
T7. Aaron Beverly 70-71-71-212
10. Robert Parden 71-72-71-214
T12. Landon Azevedo 68-76-73-217
T17. Owen Taylor 73-78-70-221