The CSUSM’s men’s golf team tied for first place at the 20-team Western New Mexico Fall Intercollegiate (WNMU) on Sept. 2-3 at the Golf Club of Estrella in Goodyear, Arizona.

This was the Cougars first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament of the year and although they had bad opening round, they came back collectively to hit 10-under 278 in the second round and tied for the lowest score of the final third round on Sept. 3 with 1-under 287. The team finished with a 54-hole total of 13-under 851 (286-278-287).

Cougars came back five shots behind leader Texas A&M-Commerce Lions to ultimately fall into a tie for first-place with Commerce at 13-under 851. The Lions claimed the first-place tournament trophy because of a lower non-counting score.

In the second round, senior Chris Tuulik posted a 4-under 68 and sophomore Ryan Bisharat made a 3-under 69. Sophomore Justin Vrzich had the lowest score of the day for the Cougars with a 5-under 67.

Tuulik is currently tied for second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and was the Cougars’ top player with 9-under 207 (68-68-70). He made 17 birdies and is this week’s CCAA “Player of the Week.”

Bisharat finished tournament 8-under 208 (71-69-68), one stroke behind Tuulik.

Vrzich finished 4-over 220 (74-67-79). Junior Jordan McBrayer scored a 6-over 222 (76-74-72), while freshman Matthew Moss finished 9-over 225 (72-76-77). Playing in his first NCAA collegiate tournament, Matthew Moss earned 4-over 148 and Jordan McBrayer scored a 2-over 150.

Cougars will play Oct. 9-10 at the Interwest Wildcat Classic hosted by Chico State at the Butte Creek Golf Course and again on Oct. 16 at Cal State Monterey Bay University for the CSUMB Otter Invitational at the Bayonet Golf Course in Seaside.