GLF: UCSB’s Smith leads Gauchos at Del Walker Intercollegiate

LONG BEACH – Freshman Zach Smith had another solid finish as he completed play at the 19th Del Walker Intercollegiate Golf Classic with a 5-over par 215, tying for 22nd-place in the tournament played at the Virginia Country Club in Long Beach. UCSB finished 10th as a team with a score of 874.

Smith, one of three freshmen in the Gauchos’ lineup, shot is best round on Monday as he carded a 2-under par 68 in the second of two rounds played on the first day. In Tuesday’s final round, he shot a 2-over 72. Senior Hunter Robinson was one-shot back of Smith, tying for 27th-place with a 6-over par 216.

First-year playes picked-up the next two spots for UCSB. Brandon Bauman tied for 44th, shooting an 11-over par 221 and Willy Moffly tied for 52nd with a 13-over 223. Mike Smith, a sophomore, rounded out the Gauchos’ five at the tournament, recording a 21-over par 231.

UC Irvine’s Peter Fernandez led from start-to-finish earning individual medalist honors. Fernandez shot a 7-under par 63 in the first round and never looked back, finishing with an 8-under par 202, six shots ahead of Long Beach State’s Daniel Chian and Irvine’s Bryan Shin who each shot 2-under par 208s.

The Anteaters also copped the team title as they were the only squad to shoot under par for the tournament at 2-under 838. Campbell University was second at 7-over, while three schools, Sacramento State, Long Beach State and Denver tied for third at 11-over par.

The Gauchos will be off until Mar. 22-24 when they will take part in the Cal Poly Match Play competition at the Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Arroyo Grande, Calif.