(Ventura, CA) The Park University Gilbert men’s golf team finished third in the California Pacific Conference Golf Championships held at Olivas Links Golf Course in Ventura, Calif. Eli Cruzan was named to the All-Cal Pac team as he finished in third place individually.
The Bucs came in needing to go low to overcome a nine stroke deficit but could not get anything going on the front side where they had most of their success on the first two days. The Buccaneers ended up shooting a 10-over 298 which put them 15 strokes behind tournament winner Benedictine Mesa who shot a four-over 292.
Cruzan becomes the third Buccaneer to earn all-conference honoree joining Victor Larsson and Ludvig Nielson. He shot an even par 72 today which moved him up one spot into third place, five shots off the lead. The third place finish ties Larsson (2021) and Nielson (2022) for the best finish in the conference tournament.
Sophomore Noah Blaickner finished the third round with a one-over 73 which moved him up two spots into 10th-place. This is the second time the Bucs have had two top-10 finishers as Larsson and Nielson both finished in the top-five in 2022.
Cole Taylor had his best round of the tournament, shooting a four-over 76
As a team this is the fourth consecutive season they have finished in third place in the conference tournament, but it was the first time they finished a day higher than third during the tournament week and for a brief time on day 2 they were in the lead.
Overall this is the best season for the team in school history. The Buccaneers won their first tournament as a program and finished second twice. Cruzan and Blaickner each won tournaments as individuals which had never happened before in school history. The Bucs return all five starters from this tournament next year, including freshmen Riley Wortman , Jax Sisson and Taylor.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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