Chico State Wildcat Classic (Full Results)
CORNING, Calif. – Academy of Art men's golf junior
Matthew Watkins entered the final round of the Chico State Wildcat Classic in first place, and despite being tied with just two holes remaining in the tournament, was able to hold off all challengers with a birdie on the final hole to finish at 2-over-par 146 and claim his first tournament win of the season. Meanwhile, his performance helped the Urban Knights to end in third place as a unit despite consistently windy conditions with a combined 42-over-par 618.
"Matt has done an outstanding job captaining this team and showing our rookies the ropes of college golf," said ART U Head Coach
Deven DeLuca. "So proud of the team, we beat a lot of really good teams this week in tough course conditions."
Watkins knew that he needed to make a move as he found himself tied with Brad Sparrer of Stanislaus State with just two holes to go, and began his move with a nice up-and-down save for par on the 17th hole. Needing a birdie to capture a solo victory, Watkins was able to hit a crushing drive down the fairway, allowing him to reach the green in two more shots where he would drop a clutch birdie for the victory. It was one of three birdies in the round for Watkins, giving him a total of six in the tournament, tied for fourth most in the tournament. It marks the 11th top-10 finish in the career of Watkins (most in ART U history), and is his second tournament victory leaving him in second place in program history (behind former teammate
Julius Kreutzer's four).
Earning the best finish early in his ART U career was sophomore
Beau Willett, as he opened his final round with a birdie on the first hole before going on to finish in a tie for 11th place at 8-over-par 152. Also factoring into the scoring for the Urban Knights was the combination of freshmen
Ralph Kho and
Anson Pan, as the duo ended in a tie for 32nd place at 16-over-par 160. Kho would end with a total of five birdies in the tournament, tied for the seventh most.
Thanks to three players finishing in the top five, Stanislaus State would claim the team championship at the Wildcat Classic, ending with a 21-over-par 597. Academy of Art ended as the best PacWest finisher, with Dominican and Holy Names finishing in seventh and eighth place, respectively.
Next week will bring the final action of the fall season for ART U, as the Knights will participate in the Otter Invitational teeing off on Oct. 18.
