SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Cal (285-284-289 – 858, +6) inched up to finish in sole possession of eighth place Sunday at the conclusion of the Maui Jim Invitational hosted by Georgia State at the par-71, 7147-yard Mirabel Golf Club. Collin Morikawa (71-66-70 – 207, -6) tied for ninth to record his third consecutive top-10 showing dating back to last season to lead the way for the Golden Bears.
Morikawa had a strong finish Sunday as he played the final five holes in four-under par after being three-over without a birdie through his first 13 holes. Morikawa, who started on the 10th hole, began his hot on the fifth hole when he drove the green on the 307-foot par-four and knocked in a 20-foot putt for eagle. He then made back-to-back birdies on the par-five seventh and par-three eighth before knocking in a chip from 20 yards on his final hole to save par on the par-four ninth.

"Today was a grind and I was able to stay patient all 18 holes," Morikawa said. "I couldn't have finished as strong as I did without the help of my coaches Walter [Chun] and Eric [Mina]. The eagle on five kick started me but what saved my round was the chip in on the final hole. There was a lot to learn for me and the team from this week especially when we didn't have our best stuff out there."

Ben Doyle (71-71-70 – 212, -1) was consistent throughout the event with a one-under par final round Sunday after even-par showings Friday and Saturday. Doyle started with a bogey on his first hole on the par-four 10th Sunday then made two birdies on the par-four 16th and par-five second to go along with 15 pars the rest of the way.

William Aldred (74-67-77 – 218, +5) had the next best score by a Cal player largely in part to his brilliant four-under round Saturday and ended up tied for 48th participating in the event as an individual.

Tanner Hughes (71-77-75 – 223, +10), Stephen Griggs (74-70-80 – 224, +11) and Walker Huddy (72-79-74 – 225, +12) were also in the Cal lineup. Hughes tied for 65th, while Griggs tied for 71st and Huddy was alone in 77th.

Hughes had the wildest round by a Cal player Sunday as he was six-over par through his first nine holes before rebounding with a two-under final nine that included five birdies that were two more than any other Cal player had in his entire round but also a bogey and a double bogey.

Cal's four scoring players were six-under par over their final nine holes Sunday after going 11-over on the first nine with the team beginning on the 10th hole.

"The wind was blowing in the early part of the round and we played the tougher nine holes with those winds," said Walter Chun, Alex and Marie Shipman Director of Men's Golf. "That's tough for any team to handle, but I'm proud of the guys for hanging in there and playing the way they did on the second nine holes."

LSU (270-271-270 – 811, -41) won the team title and held off second-place Baylor (269-276-271 – 816, -36) by five shots with the teams easily outdistancing the remainder of the 16-team field and also firing the best two final rounds Sunday. LSU's Luis Gagne (65-65-66 – 196, -17) was the individual medalist.

Cal next be in action Oct. 10-11 when the Golden Bears host a 15-team field for the Alister MacKenzie Invitational at Meadow Club in Fairfax, Calif.

"We have two weeks off before the MacKenzie, and we need to work on our weaknesses," Chun said. "We have finished in the top 10 at both of our events this season, but we need to elevate our games."
 
MAUI JIM INVITATIONAL (HOSTED BY GEORGIA STATE)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ
MIRABEL GOLF CLUB (PAR 71, 7147 YARDS)
 
FINAL TEAM LEADERBOARD (after 3 of 3 days/3 of 3 rounds/54 of 54 holes)
1. LSU (270-271-270 – 811, -41)
2. Baylor (269-276-271 – 816, -36)
3. Kent State (264-279-285 – 828, -24)
4. Kansas (270-288-279 – 837, -15)
5. South Carolina (273-276-290 – 839, -13)
6. Georgia Tech (280-276-288 – 844, -8)
7. Houston (281-280-292 – 853, +1)
8. Cal (285-284-289 – 858, +6)
9. Augusta (289-282-288 – 859, +7)
10. South Florida (290-282-289 – 861, +9)
11. UAB (279-301-284 – 864, +12)
12. Georgia State (285-284-303 – 872, +20)
13. Chattanooga (286-294-296 – 876, +24)
14. Notre Dame (288-291-298 – 877, +25)
15. Grand Canyon (291-286-304 – 881, +29)
16. Hawai'i (290-309-310 – 909, +57)
 
FINAL PLAYER LEADERBOARD – INDIVIDUAL MEDALIST (after 3 of 3 days/3 of 3 rounds/54 of 54 holes)
1. Luis Gagne – LSU (65-65-66 – 196, -17)

FINAL PLAYER LEADERBOARD – CAL INDIVIDUALS (after 3 of 3 days/3 of 3 rounds/54 of 54 holes)
T9. Collin Morikawa (71-66-70 – 207, -6)
T23. Ben Doyle (71-71-70 – 212, -1)
^T48. William Aldred (74-67-77 – 218, +5)
T65. Tanner Hughes (71-77-75 – 223, +10)
T71. Stephen Griggs (74-70-80 – 224, +11)
77. Walker Huddy (72-79-74 – 225, +12)
^Playing as an individual