2023 NNU Nighthawks Invitational (Final Results)
LIVERMORE, Calif. – It was another steady day on the links for Academy of Art men's gof on Tuesday, as ART U improved one spot by the end of the final round to tie for fifth place at with an overall combined score of 39-over-par 615 while three Urban Knights held on to a top-20 finish at the 2023 NNU Nighthawks Invitational hosted at Poppy Ridge Golf Course.
Though it was a one-shot drop from the score ART U turned in yesterday, there were still notable individuals as the trio of juniors
Allan Osornio and
Jack DeBenedetti as well as sophomore
Giulio Zanichelli all placed inside the top 20 as the Knights were 20-over-par 308. After starting the day in 19th place, Osornio was able to produce another steady round with one birdie on the eighth hole while going 2-over on both the front and back nine, ending his round at 4-over-par 76. That was strong enough to help capture a tie for 15th place with an overall score of 8-over-par 152.
Along with Osornio, both DeBenedetti and Zanichelli made a jump on the leaderboard in the final round as the duo ended in a tie for 18th place at 9-over-par 153. For DeBenedetti, he began the day in a tie for 19th alongside Osornio, and after a rollercoaster of a round that featured a total of five birdies, ended his final round with a 5-over-par 77. Not only was it the most in a single ART U round, it helped him finish with nine for the tournament which was third-most in the field. Meanwhile, Zanichelli made a 20-spot jump up the leaderboard after he carded a 1-over-par 73 that saw him go flawless on the front nine with birdies on the third and ninth holes without a bogey of any kind.
Rounding out the scoring for ART U was sophomore
Anson Pan, as he closed in a tie for 32nd place at 13-over-par 157. Despite a tough end to his round, his two birdies on the front nine gave him six for the tournament, which tied him for fifth-most in the field.
Surging up the team leaderboard on the final day was Holy Names, as they captured the team portion of the tournament after starting the day in third place as they closed the action at a combined 15-over-par 591, winning by just three strokes over Cal State East Bay at 18-over-par 594. It was reversed in the individual portion of the action, as CSUEB Pioneer Ryan Hong claimed victory after a one hole playoff as he and Edvin Backstrom of HNU each tied at 1-under-par 143. Another Hawk was also in the mix for the individual title, as Luke Dugger ended third at even-par 144.
The Urban Knights will be in action again next week as the season rolls into the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout hosted by Cal State East Bay from Chuck Corica Golf Complex, with the first round teeing off on Monday, March 13.
