BRYAN, Tex. – Freshman KK Limbhasut (73-69-72 – 214, -2) captured his first collegiate title by winning individual medalist honors Sunday at the Aggie Invitational hosted by Texas A&M at the Traditions Club. Limbhasut was the only golfer in the 78-player field to finish under-par for the tournament and was two strokes ahead of second-place Kolton Crawford of Arkansas (72-72-72 – 216, E).
Limbhasut was also the second straight Cal player to win the Aggie Invitational following Brandon Hagy's victory in 2014 when the Golden Bears made their first appearance at the event. He is the first Cal freshman to win an event since Michael Wilson won the Mid Pines Intercollegiate in his first college event in the fall of 2002. Limbhasut is also the third Cal player to win an individual title in 2014-15. Cameron Shaw was the co-medalist at the Itani Quality Homes Collegiate last October, while Shotaro Ban was the winner at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate in February of 2015.
“It is a relief to know that I'm working towards the right direction,” Limbhasut said. “Winning this tournament also gave me confidence for upcoming tournaments.”
“I'm not surprised,” added head coach Steve Desimone. “He's had a tremendous spring and the beat goes on. The course set up well for him. He played some really smart golf, hit a lot of good golf shots and made some putts. When you do that you put yourself in contention and in this case it was good enough to win. I'm very happy for and proud of him.”
Limbhasut started Sunday's third and final round one shot out of the lead but quickly moved to the top of the leaderboard. Limbhasut started on the back nine and birdied three of his first six holes on the par-five 10th, par-four 14th and par-five 15th. He would make back-to-back bogeys on the par-four 17th and 18th holes but got both strokes back when he started his back nine with birdies on the par-four first and third holes.
Limbhasut had a five-stroke lead going into his final five holes but saw his lead shrink after bogeys on the par-five fifth and par-three seventh before getting one shot back with a birdie on the par-five eighth. He would double bogey the par-four ninth but he was far enough in front that it did not cost him the victory.
“Fortunately I had enough room to make some mistakes coming down the end,” Limbhasut said.
Cal (307-297-302 – 906, +42) finished seventh as a team in the event with Oklahoma (302-288-294 – 884, +20) emerging as the winner Sunday after being one of three teams tied for the lead at the end of Saturday's second round.
“I was disappointed in the finish but overall it was a good learning experience for us,” Desimone said. “It was very similar to an NCAA Regional competition with lots of travel, a short time frame and an unfamiliar golf course. As far as the tournament itself the front nine yesterday really did us in. We never really recovered from that. I will give the guys credit though because they fought for the entire 54 holes and we played some pretty good golf over the last 45 holes. Young teams are going to go thru this. Patience is the key word.”
Shotaro Ban (75-74-79 – 228, +12) was Cal's next finisher in a tie for 29th. Ban had started the round tied for 15th but shot a seven-over par 43 on his first nine holes on the course's back nine. He came back with three birdies (4, 5, 8) on his second nine holes and shot even-par on the front nine.
Alexander Wilson (82-77-76 – 235, +19), Ben Doyle (80-77-79 – 236, +20) and Sebastian Crampton (79-83-75 – 237, +21) were also in the Bears' lineup and tied for 48th, 50th and 55th, respectively.
Keelan Kilpatrick (77-77-79 – 233, +17) played as an individual and tied for 45th, while Cameron Shaw was slated to play as an individual but withdrew due to injury.
Cal returns to action April 11-12 when the Bears play for one of only two times this season locally in the Bay Area at the Western Intercollegiate hosted by San Jose State at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz. Admission is free with tee times beginning both days at 8:15 a.m. PT.
“We're looking forward to getting home and that great test that is Pasatiempo and the Western Intercollegiate next week,” Desimone said.
AGGIE INVITATIONAL (HOSTED BY TEXAS A&M)
BRYAN, TX
TRADITIONS CLUB (PAR 72, 7146 YARDS)
FINAL TEAM LEADERBOARD (after 2 of 2 days/3 of 3 rounds/54 of 54 holes)
1. Oklahoma (302-288-294 – 884, +20)
2. Texas Tech (308-291-288 – 887, +23)
3. Arkansas (298-293-297 – 888, +24)
4. LSU (297-298-296 – 891, +27)
5. Texas A&M (303-287-304 – 894, +30)
6. New Mexico State (301-289-311 – 901, +37)
7. Cal (307-297-302 – 906, +42)
8. North Texas (311-296-308 – 915, +51)
9. Michigan (318-302-299 – 919, +55)
10. UTSA (315-300-311 – 926, +62)
11. Kent State (314-297-317 – 928, +64)
12. Bowling Green State (312-326-301 – 939, +75)
13. Princeton (336-321-319 – 976, +112)
FINAL PLAYER LEADERBOARD – INDIVIDUAL MEDALIST (after 2 of 2 days/3 of 3 rounds/54 of 54 holes)
1. KK Limbhasut – Cal (73-69-72 – 214, -2)
FINAL PLAYER LEADERBOARD – CAL INDIVIDUALS (after 2 of 2 days/3 of 3 rounds/54 of 54 holes)
1. KK Limbhasut (73-69-72 – 214, -2)
T29. Shotaro Ban (75-74-79 – 228, +12)
^T45. Keelan Kilpatrick (77-77-79 – 233, +17)
T48. Alexander Wilson (82-77-76 – 235, +19)
T50. Ben Doyle (80-77-79 – 236, +20)
T55. Sebastian Crampton (79-83-75 – 237, +21)
^WD. Cameron Shaw
^Individual
