INDEPENDENCE, MN – Cal (291-296-288 – 875, +23) opened the 2015-16 campaign by finishing second at the Gopher Invitational that concluded Monday at the par-71, 7152-yard Windsong Farm Golf Club. Oklahoma (288-284-282 – 854, +2) won the event by 21 strokes over the second-place Golden Bears but Cal was able to finish one spot higher than its starting spot Tuesday after finishing Monday's action in third place.

Sophomores Sebastian Crampton (73-78-67 – 218, +5) and KK Limbhasut (75-69-74 – 218, +5) were Cal's top finishers and among four players in a tie for sixth place, with the top-10 finish the sixth of his career for Crampton and seventh for Limbhaust. The Cal duo was 12 shots behind individual medalist Max McGreevy (70-70-66 – 206, 7-7) of Oklahoma. McGreevy and teammate Luke Kwon (70-69-70 – 209, -4) were the only players in the tournament to finish under par for 54 holes. McGreevy had the event's best round with a five-under par 66 during Monday's third and final round, while Crampton's four-under par 67 on Monday was the second best of the tournament.

Crampton had six birdies in his final round including each of the first two holes and three of the first five on a shotgun start that he started with a birdie on the par-three fourth and another on the par-four fifth. Crampton would also birdie the par-four eighth as well as the par-five 12th and 18th holes in addition to his final hole of the round on the par-four third. His bogeys came on the par-four 11th and 15th holes. Crampton moved up 33 spots during the final round as he helped atone for a second-round seven-over par 78.

“I had a rough start during the middle of the stretch this week but was able to bounce back with a nice final round,” Crampton said. “As for the team we all left a lot of shots out there. Oklahoma played so well for the entire week that it would have been a tough task to catch them but overall we have some good things going for us heading into the season.”

“Seb got off to a great start today and finished with six birdies,” head coach Steve Desimone said. “That's what we've seen the first two weeks of practice and what we saw a lot of that last year. He's certainly capable and he definitely proved it today.”

Limbhasut was tied for fourth when his second round was suspended due to darkness Sunday with three holes to play. He finished his second round in a tie for eighth after a bogey on the par-five 17th on Monday but moved back up two spots during his final round despite five bogeys compared to two birdies. Limbhaust started on the first hole of Monday's shotgun start and bogeyed both each of his first two and last two holes with all par-fours other than the par-five 18th. His other bogey came on the par-four eighth while his birdies were on the third and par-three 16th holes.

“It was an up and down tournament,” Limbhasut said. “I did not get off to a great start any of the rounds but managed to control the damage very well. The course played very tough this week with the strong wind. It was a good start for our team but it wasn't the start that we would hope.”

Freshman Collin Morikawa (72-75-74 – 221, +8) tied for 17th in his first collegiate tournament and shot a three-over par final round that consisted of one birdie on the par-four 13th holes and four bogeys on the par-four second, third and 14th, as well as the par-five 18th.

“Playing in my first college tournament was a great experience,” Morikawa said. “I didn't play great and couldn't make many putts but representing Cal for the first time was amazing. You definitely have to think a little more about the team and what shot to hit rather than just for yourself. I felt that our team played as well as we could but unfortunately we had too much catch-up going into the final day.”

Shotaro Ban (74-75-73 – 222, +9) started his senior season by finishing tied for 27th, while freshman Jamie Cheatham (72-77-76 – 225, +12) tied for 39th in his collegiate debut.

“In the first tournament of the year you want to go out and compete, finish strong and get some experience for the freshman,” Desimone said. “Obviously we would have liked to have won, but we learned a lot about ourselves and we have a ways to go to catch up. I would say overall we played some decent golf, but we're certainly going to get better.”

Desimone began his 37th season as the team's head coach.

Cal returns to action Sept. 21-22 at the Inverness Intercollegiate hosted by Toledo at the Inverness Club.

GOPHER INVITATIONAL (HOSTED BY MINNESOTA)
INDEPENDENCE, MN
WINDSONG FARMS GOLF CLUB (PAR 71, 7152 YARDS)
 
FINAL TEAM LEADERBOARD (after 3 of 3 days/3 of 3 rounds/54 of 54 holes)
1. Oklahoma (288-284-282 – 854, +2)
2. Cal (291-296-288 – 875, +23)
T3. Baylor (292-292-293 – 877, +25)
T3. Kent State (290-299-288 – 877, +25)
5. Charlotte (291-300-294 – 885, +33)
6. SMU (300-293-296 – 889, +37)
T7. East Tennessee State (293-298-299 – 890, +38)
T7. Michigan State (300-299-291 – 890, +38)
T9. Iowa State (287-302-303 – 892, +40)
T9. Iowa (299-300-293 – 892, +40)
T11. Michigan (308-296-291 – 895, +43)
T11. New Mexico (308-302-285 – 895, +43)
T11. Pepperdine (303-300-298 – 895, +43)
14. Minnesota (310-299-290 – 899, +47)
15. Minnesota (B) (303-300-298 – 901, +49)
16. St. John's (MN) (309-316-316 – 941, +89)

FINAL PLAYER LEADERBOARD – INDIVIDUAL MEDALIST (after 3 of 3 days/3 of 3 rounds/54 of 54 holes)
1. Max McGreevy – Oklahoma (70-70-66 – 206, -7)

FINAL PLAYER LEADERBOARD – CAL INDIVIDUALS (after 3 of 3 days/3 of 3 rounds/54 of 54 holes)
T6. Sebastian Crampton (73-78-67 – 218, +5)
T6. KK Limbhasut (75-69-74 – 218, +5)
T17. Collin Morikawa (72-75-74 – 221, +8)
T27. Shotaro Ban (74-75-73 – 222, +9)
T39. Jamie Cheatham (72-77-76 – 225, +12)