Steve Sugimoto Wins CSUSM Fujikura Invitational

VISTA, Calif. -- San Diego State men's golfer Steve Sugimoto (San Diego/Rancho Bernardo HS) claimed medalist honors as an individual competitor on Tuesday at the CSUSM Fujikura Invitational, hosted by Cal State San Marcos. The Aztec junior posted a combined 8-under 208, highlighted by a final-round 66 today, to capture his first collegiate victory by six strokes over teammate Zihao Jin (Beijing) on the par-72, 7,008-yard Shadowridge Country Club layout in Vista, Calif.
 
Sugimoto entered the tournament's final day in second place, four shots behind Oklahoma Christian's Trevor Norby, but surged into the lead with six birdies and a bogey-free 66 to complete his round at 6-under 66. Both the final round 66 and the 54-hole 208 were career lows for Sugimoto. Conversely, Norby tumbled into third at even-par 216 after carding a final-round 78, recording eight bogeys and just two birdies.
 
Jin, meanwhile, moved ahead of Norby, shooting a final-round 71 to finish at 2-under 214 for the tournament. He notched four birdies and three bogeys on the day. A junior, it was Jin's best-ever finish at San Diego State.
 
The Aztecs had two other individuals compete in the tournament, both finishing among the top 10. Sophomore Amadeo Figus (Rome) carded a final-round 2-under 70 to vault up 18 places on the leaderboard and finish tied for eighth at 4-over 220. Starting on hole No. 18, Figus sizzled early with four birdies over his first seven holes and one bogey to get to 3-over for the tournament. He followed with six straight pars and a couple of bogeys, before birdying the par-5 521-yard 17th hole to finish tied with Chico State's Myoung Kim in eighth.
 
Newport Laparojkit (Montebello, Calif.) shot an even-par 72 in his final round to finish tied for 10th with four others at 5-over 221. The senior recorded three birdies and three bogeys to move up 10 places on Tuesday.
 
San Diego State returns to action at The Prestige Presented by Charles Schwab, Feb. 17-19, at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif.
 
CSUSM Fujikura Invitational
Vista, Calif.
Final Results
Shadowridge Country Club
Par 72, 7,008 yards
 
Individual Leaders (Top 5 of 87 players + SDSU)
1. Steve Sugimoto, SDSU… 72-70-66—208 (-8)
2. Zihao Jin, SDSU…70-73-71—214 (-2)
3. Trevor Norby, Oklahoma Christian…70-68-78—216 (E)
4. Devin Gregg, Sonoma State…75-72-71—218 (+2)
T5. Matthew Moss, Cal State San Marcos…77-74-68—219 (+3)
T5. Jeffrey Perry, California Lutheran…73-73-73—219 (+3)
T5. Justin Vrzich, Cal State San Marcos…74-71-74—219 (+3)
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T8. Amadeo Figus, SDSU…74-76-70—220 (+4)
T-10. Newport Laparojkit, SDSU…76-73-72—221 (+5)