FRESNO, Calif. — The Sacramento State men's golf team continued its record-breaking start to the season as the Hornets posted the lowest 54-hole team total in school history. Sacramento State shot 271-278-282-831 to finish 21-under par and place fifth at the Nick Watney Invitational at Fort Washington CC on Tuesday. The score topped the previous 54-hole best of 835 which came at the Ka'anapali Classic Collegiate on Oct. 29-31, 2021.

Saint Mary's maintained its first day lead to win the tournament by four strokes. The Gaels were 36-under as a team and withstood a final day surge from Cal State Fullerton (32-under). The remainder of the top five was comprised of host Fresno State (27-under), Pacific (25-under) and the Hornets.

Jeffrey Perry had the low round for Sacramento State Tuesday, shooting 68 to set his best round as a Hornet. Perry was even through his first seven holes before birdies on the par-3 11th and par-5 12th. A bogey three holes later was immediately followed by a birdie on the par-5 16th and he moved to 3-under with a birdie on the par-4 second. Overall, Perry shot 72-70-68-210 to tie for 22nd place.

Gabriel Smith had the highest finish on the team, tying for 11th with rounds of 67-67-71-205. Smith's total ranks fifth in program history and shatters his previous best of 213. On Tuesday, Smith had 14 pars and one bogey over the first 15 holes. He dropped to even with a birdie on the par-5 16th and then closed his round with two pars.

Zach Mate had a 1-under par round of 70 on Tuesday and tied for 18th place at 5-under overall. Mate was never worse than even during the final day with the help of a birdie on the par-3 third — his second hole. He remained at 1-under until a birdie on the par-4 13th but that was immediately followed by a bogey on No. 14. Mate finished his round with five straight pars.

Jake Aberle and Luke Dugger each shot 73 during the final round to complete the lineup. Aberle had four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey. Dugger had two birdies and four bogeys. The pair, who were competing for the first time for Sacramento State, finished tied for 22nd and 45th, respectively.

Sacramento State also had Jai Bahl and Zach Matzke competing as individuals in the tournament. Bahl tied for 45th overall and shot 73 on Tuesday with 16 pars and two bogeys. Matzke had two birdies and six bogeys for a 75 and tied for 51st.

Sacramento State will next compete at the Bill Cullum Invitational in Somis, Calif., on Oct. 9-10.

NICK WATNEY INVITATIONAL
Fresno, Calif. | Fort Washington CC
Par 71 | 6,729 Yards

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Saint Mary's 274-269-273-816
2. Cal State Fullerton 277-273-270-820
3. Fresno State 284-272-269-825
4. Pacific 276-279-272-827
5. Sacramento State 271-278-282-831
6. Utah State 283-281-278-842
7. UC Irvine 286-275-283-844
8. CSUN 284-278-283-845
9. California Baptist 277-280-289-846
10. SeattleU 287-287-273-847
11. Gonzaga 285-274-289-848
12. Utah Valley 282-285-287-854
13. Southern Utah 284-288-298-870
14. UC Riverside 293-301-287-881

INDIVIDUAL TOP FIVE
1. Connor Reis, SMC, 66-62-67-195
2. Darien Zhao, UCI, 66-62-72-200
3. Tegan Andrews, CSF, 68-66-67-201
T4. Matthew Schafer, CSF, 66-68-68-202
T4. Mitchell Hoey, SMC, 68-67-67-202

SACRAMENTO STATE SCORES
T11. Gabriel Smith 67-67-71-205
T18. Zach Mate 67-71-70-208
T22. Jake Aberle 67-70-73-210
T22. Jeffrey Perry 72-70-68-210
T45. Luke Dugger 70-72-73-215
T45. Jai Bahl 70-72-73-215*
T51. Zach Matzke 73-69-75-217*