FAIRFAX, Calif. – With four players shooting at or below par, Santa Clara men's golf registered the second-lowest final-round team score with a 6-under 278, moving up three spots on the leaderboard to claim sixth-place with an 834 (-18) total at the Alister MacKenzie invitational.
"It was a solid tournament for the team," head coach Rob Miller said. "Everybody contributed and that's what you want to see early in the season."
Santa Clara's 550 total (272-278) over the final two rounds was second only to titlist Pepperdine, which carded a 536 over the same span and won the tournament by 16 swings over host Cal with an 809 total.
The Broncos were led by senior Matt McCarty, who carded a final-round 4-under 67 for a solo fifth finish with a career-low 54-hole score of 13-under 200. McCarty ended the tournament three-shots behind medalist Sahith Theegala of Pepperdine with his sixth career top-5.
"Matt played a solid tournament. He carried the team," Miller said. "He wasn't happy with the way he finished in Akron and he made up for it. A top-5 finish in this field is solid."
After scoring a 2-over on his fourth hole of the day, Zack Kaneshiro responded with 4-under, bogey-free golf the rest of the way to aid the Broncos' charge up the leaderboard. The junior climbed into a share of 26th at 4-under 209, which was also his career-best 54-hole score.
"Zack's comeback was huge," Miller noted. "It's easy to lose focus when you shoot a double early in a round. Good concentration on his part."
Another Bronco established a personal-best 54-hole score with Berk Harvey finishing tied for 20th at 5-under 208. The junior entered the day tied for ninth but slipped down the leaderboard with a final-round 73.
Sophomore Konrad Brauckmeyer and freshman Alejandro Gutierrez both had counting scores with each carding an even-par 71 on the final day. Brauckmeyer finished at 219 while Gutierrez had a 224 total.
The Broncos are back in action Monday at the two-day Cullum Invitational, hosted by Cal State Northridge at the Wood Ranch Golf Club in Simi Valley.
Santa Clara Final Individual Results
| 5. | Matt McCarty | 65-68-67 = 200 (-13) |
| T20. | Berk Harvey | 70-65-73 = 208 (-5) |
| T26. | Zack Kaneshiro | 73-67-69 = 209 (-4) |
| T68. | Konrad Brauckmeyer | 76-72-71 = 219 (+6) |
| T76. | Alejandro Gutierrez | 77-76-71 = 224 (+11) |
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