DAVIS, Calif. — A strong north breeze pushed the scores in the same direction on Sunday at the El Macero Classic but the Sacramento State men's golf team was able to finish tied for ninth place with a three-round total of 300-293-301-894.
 
The Hornets were guided by Zach Mate who tied for ninth place overall at 72-73-72-217. Mate's finish was the best by a Sacramento State golfer at the tournament since Taylor Knoll was second in 2015. The junior bogeyed his first hole (No. 10) but was even after nine holes thanks to birdies on the par-4 14^th and par-5 15^th. He had an even steadier front nine with a bogey on the par-3 third and a birdie on the par-4 eighth to go along with seven pars.
 
Max Thomas and Jake Aberle each shot 76 to tie for the second-lowest mark by a Hornet in the final round. Thomas was 1-over on the second nine with bogeys on Nos. 11 and 16 and a birdie on the par-4 17^th. After making the turn, he birdied Nos. 1 and 2 to get to 1-under but played his final seven holes and 5-over with three bogeys and a double bogey. Thomas tied for 55^th place overall with a total of 76-76-76-228
 
Aberle was 2-over on both halves of the course. He had a birdie and three bogeys on the back nine and posted two birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on the front nine.
 
Luke Dugger and Gabriel Smith matched Aberle's 54-hole total of 229 to all tie for 60^th place. Dugger ended the tournament with a 77 while Smith shot 81. Dugger was 7-over through 16 holes but rallied late in the day with birdies on the par-4 eighth and ninth. Smith had two birdies, nine bogeys and a double bogey on Sunday.
 
UC San Diego tied for the lowest team score in the final round and retook the lead it held after the first round with win the tournament. The Tritons were 1-over par as a team over the weekend to beat Saint Mary's by one stroke. Pacific was third at 3-over and was followed by San Diego (13), California Baptist (18-over) and San Francisco (18-over) in the top five.
 
USF's Oscar Holm-Bredkjaer finished the tournament at 6-under with rounds of 71-69-70-210 to become the medalist. Holm-Bredkjaer was 2-strokes ahead of Pacific Carlos Astiazaran who also shot 70 in the final round.
 
Sacramento State will make its debut at the Big West Championship in La Quinta, Calif., Apr. 27-29.
 
El Macero Classic
Davis, Calif. | El Macero CC
Par 72 | 7,127 Yards
 
Team Standings
1. UC San Diego 281-291-293-865
2. Saint Mary's 283-284-299-866
3. Pacific 283-290-294-867
4. San Diego 282-286-304-877
T5. California Baptist 287-294-301-882
T5. San Francisco 291-298-293-882
7. Nevada 296-296-295-887
8. Denver 291-294-305-890
T9. Sacramento State 300-293-301-894
T9. Cal State Fullerton 291-292-311-894
11. UC Davis 292-300-306-898
12. Gonzaga 298-300-302-900
13. Washington State 297-299-306-902
14. Fresno State 297-306-300-903
15. Air Force 295-302-307-904
16. CSUN 303-295-312-910
17. UT-Arlington 314-317-309-940
 
Individual Leaders
1. Oscar Holm-Bredkjaer, USF, 71-69-70-210
2. Carlos Astiazaran, PAC, 70-72-70-212
3. Nathan Tseng, UCSD, 74-70-69-213
4. Kyle Dougherty, UCSD, 68-72-74-214
5. Deitrek Gill, PAC, 71-69-75-215
 
Sacramento State Scores
T9. Zach Mate 72-73-72-217
T55. Max Thomas 76-76-76-228
T60. Jake Aberle 78-75-76-229
T60. Luke Dugger 81-71-77-229
T60. Gabriel Smith 74-74-81-229