Men's Golf Captures Southwestern Invitational Title
The Aztecs erase a seven-shot deficit heading into the final round to capture the team title in its first tournament of 2021.
The San Diego State University men’s golf team started its 2021 season on a high note, rallying on the final day of competition to capture the team title at the Southwestern Invitational presented by Topgolf on Wednesday. SDSU finished the tournament at 10-over-par 874 to beat Arizona State University (+13) by three shots at the par-72, 6,992-yard North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village, California.
It was SDSU’s third Southwestern Invitational title, the first tournament win since claiming the Bill Cullum Invitational on Oct. 14-15, 2019 and the 32nd team title under 18-year head coach Ryan Donovan.
Trailing by seven shots to Arizona State University after two rounds, the Aztecs fired a final-round 5-over 293 on the final day to post the low team score of the day.
Junior Youssef Guezzale was the Aztecs' top individual finisher, tying for third at even-par 216 after shooting a final round 3-over 75. It was Guezzale's best finish of his collegiate career.
Junior Joey Moore tied for ninth at 2-over 218 for the best finish of his career, while senior Zihao Jin finished the tournament in a tie for 11th overall after tying for the lowest round on Wednesday.
Senior Puwit Anupansuebsai, the reigning Mountain West Golfer of the Year, tied for 20th, and senior Steve Sugimoto finished in a tie for 26th at the tournament.
Arizona State's David Puig earned medalist honors after leading wire-to-wire and finishing at 10-under 206. Only one other competitor broke par for the tournament in Pepperdine University's Joshua McCarthy (-1). The nine-shot win was the largest margin in the history of the tournament.
SDSU is next in action in The Prestige presented by Charles Schwab at PGA West, Feb. 15-17, in La Quinta, California.
