Justin Hastings Wins UC San Diego Invitational

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Freshman Justin Hastings (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands) captured medalist honors to lead a host of three San Diego State men's golfers in the top 10 at the UC San Diego Invitational, which wrapped up Tuesday on the par-72, 7,151-yard Omni La Costa Championship Course. Hastings is the second consecutive Aztec freshman to earn medalist honors at the USCD Invite after Liam Koeneke won in a playoff in 2021.
 
Competing as an individual, Hastings fired a final round 4-under-par 68 to finish at 9-under 207. Hastings was the only golfer in the 89-man field to score in the 60s on Tuesday and was one of just seven to shoot under-par as the stroke average for the final round was 75.97.
 
Hastings became the fifth different SDSU golfer to capture medalist honors since the 2019-20 season and seventh overall.
 
Hastings beat out UC San Diego's Davis McDowell (-8) by a stroke after McDowell entered the final round with a three-stroke lead. Also competing as individuals, San Diego State's Amadeo Figus tied for fifth at 3-under 213 and Koeneke tied for eighth at -2, while Skyler Ngo tied for 37th at +5.
 
After opening with a 70 and 69 yesterday, Hastings came out firing with birdies on his first four holes, beginning with the par-5, 594-yard 18th hole. Hastings got to 5-under with a birdie on the par-4, 418-yard fifth before a bogey on the par-5, 538-yard sixth and two straight pars saw his first nine completed in 4-under 33. He then birdied the par-4, 415-yard ninth and par-4, 367-yard 11th to reach 6-under. Hastings, however, had three bogeys over his final five holes with his eighth and final birdie on the par-3, 170-yard 16th to settle for his 68.
 
Hastings easily set a collegiate career-low 54-hole score of 207, 14 strokes better than his previous best done twice this season. His 70, 69 and 68 were all his lowest 18-hole scores as well as he hadn't broken par in his first 12 collegiate rounds this season. The 17 birdies by Hastings were the most in the tournament.
 
Figus, meanwhile, tied for fifth at 3-under 213, which matched his career-low 54-hole score (Oct. 14-16, 2018). Figus, who shot a 67 and 74 in yesterday's opening rounds, had an even-par 72 today with five birdies and five bogeys. After starting 3-over through his first 10 holes, Figus went 3-under over his final eight holes of the tournament.
 
Koeneke, the defending champion, shot an even-par 72 today and 2-under 214 overall to tie for eighth. Koeneke, who won the event last year at 2-over 218, had three birdies in a five-hole stretch to get to 3-under through nine holes, but took a double bogey on the par-3, 244-yard 12th and a bogey on the par-4, 472-yard 14th to sign for an even-par 72.
 
Ngo matched his career-low 54-hole score at 221 (+5) with a best round of 1-under 71 today. Ngo started out with a bang on the par-4, 340-yard 15th when he drove the green and sank the eagle putt. He followed with a bogey, however, and had two birdies and two bogeys the rest of the way.
 
San Diego State will look to defend its Wyoming Cowboy Classic title April 4-5 at Whirlwind Golf Course in Chandler, Arizona.
 
UC San Diego Invitational
Carlsbad, Calif.
Day Two Results (Round 3)
Omni La Costa Championship Course
Par 72, 7,151 yards
 
Individual Leaders (Top 7 of 89 players + SDSU)
1. Justin Hastings^ (San Diego State)…70-69-68—207 (-9)
2. Davis McDowell (UC San Diego)…69-67-72—208 (-8)
3. Blaze Akana (Sacramento State)…71-69-71—211 (-5)
4. Darien Zhao (UC Irvine)…69-70-73—212 (-4)
T5. Amadeo Figus^ (San Diego State)…67-74-72—213 (-3)
T5. Ethan Davidson (Sacramento State)…71-70-72—213 (-3)
T5. Javier Vasquez (Utah State)…73-69-71—213 (-3)
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T8. Liam Koeneke^ (San Diego State)…67-75-72—214 (-2)
T36. Skyler Ngo^ (San Diego State)…76-74—221 (+5)
^ competing as an individual