The Sonoma State University men’s golf team traveled to the Bay Area invitational last week to collect its first tournament win since the Hanny Stanislaus Invitational in Turlock last April. 

The Academy of Art and Holy Names hosted the invitational at The Course at Wente Vineyards in Livermore. Not only did the team win the invitational, three Seawolves placed within the top five. 

Freshman Armand Melendez jumped from 23rd place to third on Tuesday during the invitational. During Melendez’s final round, he scored five-under-par 67 to give him the jump SSU needed. 

Melendez ended the tournament with 11 birdies. However, he fell short to Zack Sims of Holy Names. 

Juniors Dexter Simonds and Spencer Clapp ended up in a tie for fourth place at nine-over 225. Clapp led the invitational with 40 pars. 

Clapp had his highest round scored at a 77, while his lowest was only three points off at a 74. Clapp is determined to finish off this year on a high. “My goal for the rest of this year is to get our team to nationals,” Clapp said. “And to rededicate myself to the game. This semester I want to be more focused on golf.” 

Although Clapp led everyone in the tournament in pars, he would have to say his strongest part of his game this past tournament was his putting. 

Two other honorable Seawolf mentions are sophomore Devin Gregg and senior Ian Hofmann; Gregg tied for 26th with the scores of 83-72-80+235 (+19) while Hofmann tied 53rd at 81-85-79 (+29). 

Hofmann had a rough week in this past tournament invitational with Holy Names. 

“I realized after this last tournament that I am not a straight ball hitter,” he said “I do my best when I try to work every shot a little left or right. Although I struggled this past week with my game I do feel that I did a really good job with keeping even-keeled throughout each round.”

Knowing this is his last season with the Seawolves, Hofmann said he has his own personal goals, with the team’s best interest at heart.

“As for a personal goal,” he said, “for the rest of this 2018 season would be to be the best leader I can be and to believe fully into every single shot I hit.” 

Sonoma State men’s golf as a whole won the tournament by 10 shots over competitor Holy Names. 

The Seawolves scored a 906 (+42) during this eventful invitational. 

The Sonoma State Seawolves golf team will continue their season this week on Monday and Tuesday at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout at the Club at Ruby Hill in Pleasanton. 

The squad hopes to return with another victory under their belt for Sonoma State.