SONOMA, Calif. – Sophomore Carlos Briones claimed the first top-10 finish of his collegiate career and the Santa Clara men's golf team climbed two spots on the team leaderboard to finish 13th at the Alister MacKenzie Invitational completed today at the Sonoma Golf Club.

The Broncos improved their team score every round and completed today's final 18 holes with a 2-over-par 290 for an 880 total (+16). "It was a very loaded field," said head coach Rob Miller. "We wanted to go in and knock off a highly-ranked team but we didn't play our best, and in a field like that we needed to play well."

Briones shot a final round 1-under 71 and completed the tournament with three sub-par scores for a 5-under 211 to tie for 10th place, eight strokes behind Cal's Joel Stalter, who took the individual title with a 13-under 203. It was the first top-10 finish for Briones with his previous best being a 12th place tie at the Saint Mary's Invitational three weeks ago.

"This was great for Carlos to play the way he did," Miller noted. "This was by far his best performance as a collegian and the first time he's had a finish like that in a field like that. He's trying to establish himself as an elite player."

Freshman Tyler Kertson shot a 1-under 71 today and finished in a tie for 48th place with a 4-over 220. "Tyler followed up his strong play at the Cabo del Sol with a good showing." Miller stated. "Playing even-par over the last two rounds was a good finish for him."

Seniors Scott Lowe and Bobby Monaco each shot a 2-over 74 today with Lowe finishing in a tie for 57th at 223 (+7) and Monaco tying for 70th 226 (+10).

California led wire-to-wire and finished 22 strokes ahead of runner-up UC Davis (847) with a 39-under 825. Oregon State was third (850) while Brigham Young and Arizona State (851) tied for fourth. Eleven of the 16 teams competing in the tournament were ranked in the top-100 of the latest Golfweek.com rankings, with Cal (4th), Arizona State (23rd), Brigham Young (45th), and Oregon State (48th) all in the top-50.

"We have a ways to go but this was a great experience for the team," Miller said. "We're better for the experience (of playing in the event), but it's probably too early in the season for us to compete."

Alister MacKenzie Invitational Final Team Standings

1.      California                   268-273-284 = 825 (-39)

2.      UC Davis                   286-284-277 = 847 (-17)

3.      Oregon State             287-283-280 = 850 (-14)

T4.     Brigham Young          290-274-287 = 851 (-13)

T4.     Arizona State             281-281-289 = 851 (-13)

T6.     Oregon                      282-280-292 = 854 (-10)

T6.     Colorado                   288-282-284 = 854 (-10)

8.      San Diego State         282-292-281 = 855 (-9)

9.      Minnesota                  286-283-288 = 857 (-7)

10.     San Francisco            296-285-286 = 867 (+3)

11.     Colorado State           291-288-294 = 873 (+9)

12.     Pepperdine                291-297-286 = 874 (+10)

13.     Santa Clara               298-292-290 = 880 (+16)

14.     Fresno State              294-290-299 = 883 (+19)

15.     San Jose State          297-290-299 = 886 (+22)

16.     Hawaii                        300-297-298 = 895 (+31)

Santa Clara Final Individual Results

T10.   Carlos Briones           69-71-71 = 211 (-5)

T48.   Tyler Kertson              76-73-71 = 220 (+4)

T57.   Scott Lowe                74-75-74 = 223 (+7)

T70.   Bobby Monaco          79-73-74 = 226 (+10)

78.     Evan McLeod             79-79-78 = 236 (+20)