• Results (.pdf)

SOUTHPORT, N.C. (March 14) – The California University of Pennsylvania men's golf team opened its spring season by finishing second in the team standings with a 71-over 647 (326-321) at the St. James Plantation Invitational on Sunday at the par-72, 6,374-yard Founders Club.

IUP won invitation title with a 32-over 608 (306-302) at the two-round event after featuring the top three individual finishes. The Vulcans finished in second place, six strokes ahead of West Chester at 77-over 653 (330-323). Charleston was close behind in fourth place at 79-over 655 (322-333).

Sophomore Austin Stoddard (Pittsfield, Pa./Youngsville) led the Vulcans and finished tied for fourth on the leaderboard at 11-over 155 (79-76). He now has five top-10 finishes in his career, including a second-place finish last fall.

Classmate Paul Babashanian (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) was three strokes back of Stoddard and finished in a three-way tie for ninth overall at 14-over 158 (76-82). Junior Eric Smith (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) and freshman James Currie (Worcester, England/Malvern) both carded a 21-over 165 to finish tied for 20th overall in a field of 46 golfers.

Freshman Justin Newbauer (Georgetown, Pa./South Side) finished with a two-round score of 24-over 168 (83-85) and senior Bryan Bustamante (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem) was one stroke back at 25-over (87-82). Freshman Evan Matoske (Jensen Beach, Fla./Heritage Academy/Jensen Beach) also competed for the Vulcans, shooting a 27-over 171 (88-83) while playing in his second career invitational.

Senior Gavin Smith of the Crimson Hawks claimed medalist honors at two-over 146 (75-71) after finishing six strokes ahead of teammate Brad Boyle, who won the PSAC Championship in the fall.

Cal U returns to action this weekend when it plays in the Concord Invitational at the Glade Spring Resort, beginning Saturday, March 20.