SEASIDE, Calif. – The Santa Clara men’s golf team carded the third-lowest round of the day with a 294 (+6) and claimed fifth place with an 878 (+14) total at the 16-team Saint Mary’s Invitational, completed today on the 7,104 yard, par-72 Bayonet Golf Course in Seaside.

Entering today’s final round in sixth place after scores of 295 and 289 on Monday, the Broncos overtook Pacific and fended off Kansas State and Long Beach State for their first top-5 finish in a season opening tournament since 2010. San Diego made up five shots in today’s final round to take the team title by one stroke over tournament host Saint Mary’s.

“It was good to get out there and compete,” said head coach Rob Miller of his team’s first event. “There is room for improvement, but still a top-5 finish. We’ll take that and move on.”

Freshman Hayden Shieh, playing in his first collegiate tournament, carded a 1-over 73 in today’s final round and was the Broncos’ top individual finisher placing in a tie for 9th at 1-under 215. “Hayden played very well,” said Miller. “He’s very comfortable at this and it doesn’t come as a surprise to him or me that he finished in the top-10.”

San Diego’s Mathias Dahl held on for a one-shot win over Jobim Carlos of San Francisco.

Sophomore Evan McLeod posted the second-lowest round among the 92 players with today’s final round 3-under 69. His six birdies were one more than he posted over 36 holes on Monday. “Evan had a nice round,” said Miller. “He gutted it out and contributed.”

Junior Gio Gandionco scored a tournament-high tying 38 pars and finished in a tie for 42nd place with McLeod at 226 (+10).

Carlos Briones tallied 37 pars over three rounds and cracked the top-20 for the sixth time in his career finishing tied for 17th with a 219 total (+3). “It’s good to see Carlos playing well. He looks good,” said Miller.

Last season’s WCC Freshman of the Year Tyler Kertson shot a final round 77 and ended with a 229 (+13) total, still, a 7-shot improvement from his 236 at the same event last year. “Tyler had a tough tournament but he will be back,” Miller noted.

Competing as an individual, sophomore Michael Hultquist had his finest score as a collegian shooting a 1-over 73 in today’s final round. Hultquist finished one shot behind teammates McLeod and Gandionco with a 227 (+11) total.

Five of the top six spots in the tournament were occupied by West Coast Conference teams and that doesn’t come as a surprise to Miller. “Our conference is very strong and it’s what we expected,” Miller said. “We know the WCC is tough and we have work to do to get to the top of the heap.”

The Broncos return to tournament action on Sept. 29 competing in the Fresno State Nick Watney Invitational at the Sunnyside Country Club in Fresno.

Saint Mary’s Invitational Final Team Standings

Santa Clara Final Individual Results

*Competed as an Individual