GLF: Gauchos take second in OGIO Intercollegiate

A late surge over the final four holes helped UC Santa Barbara overcome a three-shot deficit en route to a second-place finish at the 2014 UCSB OGIO Intercollegiate at Sandpiper Golf Course. Long Beach State won the team title by two shots over the Gauchos.

UCSB was tied for third-place with Air Force as its final four players embarked on the final four holes, but the Gauchos closed fast to edge Sacramento State by one shot, 871-872. Long Beach finished at 869.

Sac State’s Owen Taylor finished as the individual medalist as he carded a 4-under par 212 over the 54 holes.

“That was a good finish for us,” said head coach Steve Lass. “We played well over those final holes and got some clutch performances from several players.”

Brett Silvernail was the top UCSB finisher. He finished 1-over par overall, but he was 1-under par in the third round, including an eagle two on the seventh hole. He tied for seventh. Glen Scher shot a team-best 2-under par 70 in the third round to finish at 4-over par and tied for 17th with teammate Will Strauss. Scher also tallied an eagle three at the 13th hole.

“Brett and Glen both shot good rounds,” Lass said. “They really made some great shots.”

Taylor finished two shots ahead of Utah’s Casey Halliday and Air Force’s Kyle Westmoreland to post the victory. Long Beach’s Kevin Lee finished fourth a 1-under par.

As a team, the 49ers entered the final round tied for third, four shots back of the Gauchos.

UCSB will return to action on April 27-29 at the Big West Conference Championship Tournament at the Soboba Springs Golf Course in San Jacinto, Calif.