DRIGGS, Idaho – Led by top-10 finishes from junior Matt McCarty and freshman Nordin van Tilburg, Santa Clara men's golf completed its season-opening event tied for sixth-place at the Showdown in the Rockies with a 7-over 871 total.
Led by McCarty's 3-under 69, the Broncos scored a final-round 290 to tie with Boise State at 871. Tournament host Utah won the event going away, finishing 13 strokes better than runner-up Oregon State with an 842.
"It's the first tournament, so we're not too concerned," head coach Rob Miller said. "We can do better and we know we can. We just have to do it."
With his 7-under 209 total, McCarty secured sixth-place and his seventh career top-10 finish. "Just a solid tournament for Matt," Miller said.
Competing in his first collegiate tournament, van Tilburg was the only Bronco to score at or below par in every round. He shot an even-par 72 on Tuesday, ending the event tied for seventh-place with Texas Tech's Kyle Hogan at 3-under 213.
With a tournament total of 13-under 213, Utah's Kyler Dunkle was a two-stroke winner over Arizona's David Laskin.
After opening the tournament with a 77, senior Derek Ackerman played even-par golf over the final two rounds to claim a piece of 30th place at 5-over 221. "A few bad holes in the first round hurt Derek," Miller said. "Overall he didn't play that bad."
Scoring from the bottom of the lineup was a concern of Miller's entering the season and it prevented the Broncos from a higher team finish in Idaho. Sophomore Zack Kaneshiro (78-74-79) shot a 15-over 231 while junior Will Del Biaggio (80-78-76) was at 18-over 234.
"I'm disappointed in the bottom or our order," Miller stated. "We have to get more out of the four and five spots."
The Broncos are back in action Monday competing at the two-day Inverness Intercollegiate in Toledo, Ohio. "Hopefully we can redeem ourselves in the Midwest," Miller noted.
Santa Clara Final Individual Results
| 6. | Matt McCarty | 67-73-69 = 209 (-7) |
| T7. | Nordin van Tilburg | 70-71-72 = 213 (-3) |
| T30. | Derek Ackerman | 77-71-73 = 221 (+5) |
| 51. | Zack Kaneshiro | 78-74-79 = 231 (+15) |
| T54. | Will Del Biaggio | 80-78-76 = 234 (+18) |
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