The Cal State Northridge men’s golf team competed at the Anteater Invitational in Costa Mesa, but due to weather conditions, the tournament became a quick, rain-shortened 36-hole event at the Mesa Verde Country Club, Feb 27-28.

The Matadors finished in 8th place, with a score of 612 (+52). They were only three shots away from being in 6th place and carded identical rounds of 306-306. Santa Clara took the championship with an easy 6 shot lead with a score of 587.

“We did not finish where we wanted,” said head coach Jim Bracken. “We were excited to play the teams that were in this tournament but then the rain came and shortened it.”

Junior Luis Kim finished in 15th place with a score of 148 (73-75), at (+8) but competed as an individual.

Freshman Erik Jarvey was the highest-scoring golfer from CSUN. Jarvey came in 21st place with a score of 150 (74-76) at 10 over par.

“He (Jarvey) is a good player with potential to shoot low rounds,” Bracken said. “I am not surprised that he is hitting in the low rounds and I am not surprised that he is not intimidated by college golfers.”

Jarvey is not a typical freshman; he played in a lot of important tournaments before coming to CSUN, Bracken said.

Freshman Dean Tonneslan tied for 28th place at 13 over par 153 (79-74) while senior Doug Miller tied for 33rd place at 14 over par. Miller’s final score was 154 (77-77).

Senior Amit Nat followed closely behind at 37th place, with a score of 155 (76-79). Nat also played individually and came in 43rd. He was 17 over par and had a final score of 157 (78-79).

Non-individually, junior Joe Lopez finished in 44th place 18 over par, with a score of 158 (79-79).

The Matadors also had two additional golfers who competed individually.

Senior Chris Pederson, who finished in 26th place at 12 over par and a final score of 152 (70-82). Josh Lipman who completed the course in 51st place +26, 166 (83-83).

“We are not making good course management choices,” Bracken said. “We are hitting higher risk shots. Instead of taking the conservative approach for par and bogeys, we are taking the risky approach, which is turning into double and triple bogeys.”

Cal Poly golfer Travis Bertoni was the only golfer to break par in the 36-hole course. He finished one under par and had a final score of 139 (69-70).

Second place went to Stephen Clark of University of Missouri- Kansas City. Clark was three over and had a close 143 (73-70)

Jarvey is leading the Matador in scoring averages with a 74.9 average in 15 rounds in 1,123 strokes.

Following Jarvey is Nat and Kim, both with a 75.3 average in 15 rounds, and Nat has hit 1,130 strokes in six rounds.

In his 15 rounds, Miller has an average of 75.4 in 1,131 strokes. Lopez follows Miller with a 76.1 average in 15 rounds and 1,142 strokes.

Jarvey also holds the Matador season record for best 18-hole round. He shot a 68 in the first round at the Santa Anita North Texas Classic and at the Northwest Collegiate Classic in Corvallis, Ore.

Jarvey is followed by Miller, Nat and Kim, all of whom shot a 69 in the second round at the Fresno State Lexus Classic.

Miller holds the Matador lead for best finish in a 54-round. Miller shot a 217 at the Santa Clara tournament. Kim shot a 218 at the Santa Clara tournament and Lopez shot a 219 at the Fresno State Lexus Classic.

Miller also leads the Matadors with two top-20 finishes including a team-best sixth place finish at the Santa Clara tournament. Miller also finished 20th at the Santa Anita North Texas Classic.

The Matadors will next tee-off at the University of California- Riverside Braveheart Classic in Beaumont, Calif. at the Oak Valley Golf Course March 6-7.

“I know we are ready to step,” Bracken said. “We have the ability to compete consistently and reduce errors, we should finish in the top 10.”

Nicole Garcia can be reached at nicole.Garcia.66@csun.edu