SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Scott Lowe was just one over par in final round play of the 2012 OGIO‐UCSB Invitational at Sandpiper Golf Club in Santa Barbara. The sophomore from Calgary, Alberta, who qualified as an amateur to play in the Canadian Tour's ATB Financial Classic this past summer, came in 13th overall – his career-best finish as a college player.

"Step in the right direction for sure," said Lowe, who along with his teammates, aims to be playing his best golf of the year at the WCC's later this month. "Keeping the ball below the hole here is essential. The greens run pretty fast back-to-front, so you have to play smart, and it helped that I was rolling the ball well. I am looking forward to the next couple weeks."

Lowe is one of four underclassmen on a young Bronco team that is 13 days away from playing in the West Coast Conference Championships, April 16-17 at San Juan Oaks Golf Club in Hollister. The team will have one final tune-up next week, the Cowboy Classic in Scottsdale, Ariz., Monday and Tuesday, April 9-10.

"It was nice to see Scott break out a little bit," said Santa Clara head men's golf coach Rob Miller. "He's been hitting the ball well but having trouble scoring. This tournament he was able to put the ball in the hole, trending upwards as we hope to get everyone hitting on all cylinders at the WCC's."

SCU's lone senior and most consistent player week-in and week-out, Ronnald Monaco, posted rounds of 76-70-76 in Santa Barbara and came in 21st. The 13-team field played in ideal weather conditions following a windy practice round Sunday.

"This is a great setting for a tournament, being right by the ocean," said Miller about Sandpiper Golf Club, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean on the northern-most coast of Santa Barbara.

"We are back at it in Arizona next week," said Lowe, looking ahead to the final two tournaments of the year. "Down in Scottsdale, driving off the tee will be key, staying in the fairways and out of the desert. At San Juan Oaks it may depend on the conditions. If it gets windy it can be really tough."  

SANTA CLARA RESULTS
12 Santa Clara Univ. 307 304 305 916
T 13 Scott Lowe 71 75 73 219
T 21 Ronnald Monaco 76 70 76 222
T 44 Colin Gunstream 77 75 77 229
66 Brett Komoto 83 84 79 246
70 Bobby Monaco 86 84 91 261

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1 Long Beach State 282 287 285 854
2 Saint Mary's (CA) 284 280 299 863
3 UC Santa Barbara 293 296 287 876
4 Sacramento State 297 294 293 884
Loyola Marymount U. 288 294 302 884
6 Southern Utah Univ. 292 295 298 885
7 CSU-Northridge 308 292 295 895
8 British Columbia, U. 307 292 297 896
9 Seattle University 295 294 311 900
10 CSU-Bakersfield 303 301 299 903
11 Wyoming, U. of 294 307 308 909
12 Santa Clara Univ. 307 304 305 916
13 UC Riverside 298 308 311 917

FINAL INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
1 Xander Schauffele Long Beach 71 69 68 208
2 Anders Engell St. Mary's 69 67 73 209
3 Bryan Bergna Loyola-Mar 69 73 71 213
4 Kei Kita UC-SaBarba 74 72 69 215
Kevin Lim Long Beach 69 73 73 215
Raymond Ho Long Beach 70 74 71 215
7 Cameron Rappleye Sac State 71 71 74 216
Kevin Roy Long Beach 72 71 73 216
9 Mac McClung St. Mary's 72 70 75 217
Paul Otte UC-SaBarba 73 73 71 217

2012 OGIO‐UCSB Invitational
Dates: Monday, Apr., 2 and Tuesday, Apr. 3, 2012
Host: UC Santa Barbara
Field (13 teams): St. Mary's (38), Long Beach State (49), Sacramento State (106), Loyola Marymount (109), UCSB (135), Wyoming (160), Southern Utah (163), UC Riverside (177), Santa Clara (189), Cal State Northridge (204), Seattle University (211), Cal State Bakersfield (243), British Columbia (NR)
Details: 54-hole tournament (36-holes Monday, 18-holes Tuesday) Shotgun start at 8 a.m. (PT) on Monday. The final 18 holes on Tuesday have tee times ranging from 8 a.m. - 9:40 a.m.
Course: Sandpiper Golf Club. (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
Yardage (Par): 7,068 (72)
Rating/Slope: 74.7/136
Address: 7925 Hollister Avenue
Santa Barbara, California 93117
Course Website: SandpiperGolf.com
Course Number: (805) 968-1541
Official Results: UCSBGauchos.com

*Rankings by GolfWeek.com