Golf team drives home another victory at Kauai Invitational

Darrin Hall / Staff Writer / The USD Vista

The Toreros’ golf team wrapped up the fall season by winning the Kauai Golf Invitational hosted by the University of Hawaii, held on Nov. 3-5 at the Puakea Golf Course.

The team blew away the field thanks to stellar second rounds by seniors Jake Yount and Blake Trimble. Trimble shot a course record 64 which only lasted for about 15 minutes when fellow teammate Yount topped it with his own record at 63. The win was exactly what the Toreros were looking for since they let a victory slip away after holding a six shot lead at the Sycuan Invitational, hosted by San Diego State University just two weeks ago.

The Toreros had a nine shot lead going into the final round.

“We have put ourselves in this position a few times and it feels great to finally come away with a victory,” Trimble said.

Along with the solid play of Yount and Trimble, Hawaiian native Alex Ching, the Toreros’ top freshman, shot three rounds in the 60s and finished fourth place overall. Yount, who won the West Coast Conference Championship last year finished in second place, losing by one shot to UNC Wilmington’s Derek Wallace who carded a final round 64. The Toreros brought home a victory, which was a great way to finish off their season.

The final scores put the Toreros in first place with a team total of 39 under par at 825. University of North Carolina Wilmington finished second at 840, San Jose State 843, Drake 845 and Utah 852.

Individually, Yount finished in second at 14 under par (72-63-67), Alex Ching in fourth at 11 under par (69-69-67), Blake Trimble finished at nine under in seventh (74-64-69), Jason Shano at three under in 19th (73-71-69), and at six over in 53rd Dale Smith rounded out the team (80-71-71).

“I’m not surprised how well these guys played. I knew we had the talent and I’m thrilled about how this team finished the fall season,” head coach Tim Mickelson said. Mickelson hopes this victory will help boost the Toreros’ confidence when the team resumes play in the spring. In February, they will return to Hawaii for the John Burns Invitational and the team will make its final push towards reaching the NCAA National Championships in May.