OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. – Cal (286-293-288 – 867, +27) finished tied for ninth at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational hosted by Illinois that concluded Sunday with third and final-round action at the par-70, 7300-yard Olympia Fields Country Club. Texas A&M (281-285-271 – 837, -3) pulled away from a 15-team field that included 10 of the nation's top 20 teams for a nine-stroke victory by shooting a nine-under round on the final day of the event that was nine strokes better than the second-best round of the tournament and 12 shots better than anyone else on the final day. Alabama's Davis Riley (66-67-67 – 200, -10) was the individual medalist.

Collin Morikawa (70-71-70 – 211, +1) and Sebastian Crampton (67-73-72 – 212, +2) led the way for the Golden Bears, tying for 13th and 15th, respectively. Kaiwen Liu (73-72-73 – 218, +8) and KK Limbhasut (76-77-73 – 226, +16) also were in the Golden Bears lineup, tying for 30th and finishing 61st. Jamie Cheatham had an opening-round seven-over par 77 before he withdrew due to illness.

"I am really proud of the guys," Cal's Alex and Marie Shipman Director of Men's Golf Walter Chun said. "They hung tough and played their hearts out today. In this tournament they showed their character and mettle. Finishing in the middle of this major championship field with four-count-four will help us moving forward."

Morikawa had two birdies and two bogeys in the final round of his season debut after missing the team's first tournament of the campaign last Friday through Sunday when he was helping Team USA to a victory at the Walker Cup Match. Morikawa bogeyed both par-threes on his first nine holes (13, 16) Sunday but got the strokes back on his second nine with birdies at the par-four fourth and par-three eighth.

"It was a very tough week being down a man and having to count all four scores but the guys all knew that after the first round and it really made us focus," Morikawa said. "Our first couple of rounds the team really faltered down the stretch, but I'm proud of our team holding on today and finishing strong. We have a lot of work to do, but we'll be ready to bring back the trophy at our home event."

:As for myself, this week was a grind," Morikawa added. "Nothing was easy and all three rounds could have been a lot of worse. I'm happy with how I hung in there and I started to find some things toward my last few holes. It wasn't the start I wanted for this season, but I can learn from this week and get ready for the MacKenzie."

"Collin struggled all tournament but he came up big for us on his back nine today with two birdies," Chun added.

Crampton, who recorded his best finish since tying for 11th at the 2016 NCAA Championships, birdied the same 16th hole that Morikawa bogeyed Sunday but it was the only one he could manage while he had three bogeys in his two-over par round on the par-four 14th, 17th and ninth holes.

"Having Sebastian finish in the top 15 on a course that's as demanding as Olympia Fields shows how much his better his game has gotten," Chun said. "He played solid golf and never gave in to any of this week's pressure. That shows he really is on the right track."

Liu birdied both of the course's par-five holes Sunday (15, 1) while his five bogeys came on four par-fours (10, 14, 4, 5) and a par-three (13).

Limbhasut had a team-high trio of birdies Sunday on the par-four 10th and 14th holes as well as the par-three eighth in his best round of the tournament but still had four bogeys on three par-fours (11, 18, 7) and a par-three (8) as well as a double-bogey on the par-four 17th.

Cal will return to action three weeks from Monday when the Golden Bears' host the annual Alister MacKenzie Invitational Oct. 9-10 at Meadow Club in Fairfax.

OFCC/FIGHTING ILLINI INVITATIONAL (HOSTED BY ILLINOIS)
OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL
OLYMPIA FIELDS COUNTRY CLUB (PAR 70, 7300 YARDS)
 
FINAL TEAM LEADERBOARD (after 3 of 3 days/3 of 3 rounds/54 of 54 holes)

1. Texas A&M (281-285-271 – 837, -3)
2. Alabama (280-280-286 – 846, +6)
3. Oklahoma State (280-287-283 – 850, +10)
4. Baylor (280-283-289 – 852, +12)
5. Illinois (283-284-286 – 853, +13)
6. Florida State (282-288-284 – 854, +14)
7. UNLV (285-290-289 – 864, +24)
8. Texas (297-283-286 – 866, +26)
T9. North Carolina (290-292-285 – 867, +27)
T9. California (286-293-288 – 867, +27)
11. Stanford (290-286-292 – 868, +28)
12. USC (283-292-296 – 871, +31)
13. Northwestern (293-288-294 – 875, +35)
14. Indiana (298-298-293 – 889, +49)
15. Navy (302-309-295 – 906, +66)

FINAL PLAYER LEADERBOARD – INDIVIDUAL MEDALIST (after 3 of 3 days/3 of 3 rounds/54 of 54 holes)

1. Davis Riley – Alabama (66-67-67 – 200, -10)

FINAL PLAYER LEADERBOARD – CAL INDIVIDUALS (after 3 of 3 days/3 of 3 rounds/54 of 54 holes)

T13. Collin Morikawa (70-71-70 – 211, +1)
T15. Sebastian Crampton (67-73-72 – 212, +2)
T30. Kaiwen Liu (73-72-73 – 218, +8)
61. KK Limbhasut (76-77-73 – 226, +16)
78. Jamie Cheatham (77-WD-WD – N/A)