Tuesday, October 1
Fresno, Calif.
Long Beach State University
vs
Nick Watney Invitational (Final Round)
Hunter Epson Wins Nick Watney Invitational, LBSU Finishes Second
10/1/2019 5:13:00 PM | Men's Golf
Senior Hunter Epson sinks birdie to win second sudden-death playoff hole
Team Results (PDF) | Individual Results (PDF)
Photo Gallery
FRESNO, Calif. – In an exciting end to the Nick Watney Invitational, Long Beach State senior Hunter Epson won the tournament after sinking a birdie to win the second sudden-death playoff hole at Fort Washington Country Club on Tuesday. As a team, the Beach placed second behind BYU after shooting 25-under par, while the Cougars won with a 30-under.
Epson defeated BYU's Peter Kuest on the second sudden-death playoff hole. After both players made par on 18, the first playoff hole, Epson sunk a birdie on 15, the second playoff hole, for the win. Epson finished the tournament shooting 200, for 13-under par, and becomes just the third player in Long Beach State men's golf history to shoot 200 or better in a 54-hole round. He is the first player since Ryan Panichpakdee in 2006 to shoot a 200 when Panichpakee fired a 200 for 16-under par at the Tijeras Creek Golf Club in Rancho Santa Margarita.
In addition to Epson's individual accolades, as a team, the Beach set a new first-round score record after shooting 274 for 10-under par to best their previous record of 277 (-11) at the John Burns Intercollegiate at the Leilehua Golf Club in 2006. LBSU's final round score of 273 (-11) is the second-best single-round score in program history coming in just behind the 2014 club's score of 270 (-10) at the Del Walker Invitational at the Virginia Country Club.
Long Beach State finished the tournament with three top-20 finishers as freshman Owen Avrit finished in a tie for ninth place as he shot 8-under par, while sophomore Bryce Kvick finished tied for 16th after shooting 5-under.
Epson had a solid final round with three birdies and an eagle before winning the tournament with his fourth birdie of the day.
The Beach will be back in action on Monday, Oct. 7 at the Alister Mackenzie Invitational in Fairfax, Calif. The first two rounds will be played on Monday, while the final round will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
Team Results
1. BYU 281-273-268 = 822 (-30)
2. Long Beach State 274-280-273 = 827 (-25)
3. San Jose State 280-280-269 = 829 (-23)
T4. San Diego 281-279-273 = 833 (-19)
T4. Fresno State 283-272-278 = 833 (-19)
6. UC Santa Barbara 288-280-278 = 846 (-6)
7. CSUN 280-280-290 = 850 (-2)
8. Seattle 296-286-271 = 853 (+1)
9. Pacific 284-282-289 = 855 (+3)
10. Sacramento State 292-284-280 = 856 (+4)
11. Gonzaga 287-294-280 = 861 (+9)
12. UC Irvine 296-282-287 = 865 (+13)
13. Cal Poly 297-286-285 = 868 (+16)
14. Cal Baptist 287-296-290 = 873 (+21)
15. UC Riverside 302-301-309 = 912 (+60)
Individual Results
1. Hunter Epson 68-64-68 = 200 (-13)
T9. Owen Avrit 69-72-64 = 205 (-8)
T16. Bryce Kvick 68-70-70 = 208 (-5)
T41 Isaac Rodea 69-75-72 = 216 (+3)
T41 Hunter Reed 71-74-71 = 216 (+3)
Photo Gallery
FRESNO, Calif. – In an exciting end to the Nick Watney Invitational, Long Beach State senior Hunter Epson won the tournament after sinking a birdie to win the second sudden-death playoff hole at Fort Washington Country Club on Tuesday. As a team, the Beach placed second behind BYU after shooting 25-under par, while the Cougars won with a 30-under.
Epson defeated BYU's Peter Kuest on the second sudden-death playoff hole. After both players made par on 18, the first playoff hole, Epson sunk a birdie on 15, the second playoff hole, for the win. Epson finished the tournament shooting 200, for 13-under par, and becomes just the third player in Long Beach State men's golf history to shoot 200 or better in a 54-hole round. He is the first player since Ryan Panichpakdee in 2006 to shoot a 200 when Panichpakee fired a 200 for 16-under par at the Tijeras Creek Golf Club in Rancho Santa Margarita.
Epson wins! Senior @hunter_epson makes this birdie putt to win the Nick Watney Invitational on the second playoff hole. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/i1onL1I0e0
— LB State Men's Golf (@LBSUMensGolf) October 1, 2019
In addition to Epson's individual accolades, as a team, the Beach set a new first-round score record after shooting 274 for 10-under par to best their previous record of 277 (-11) at the John Burns Intercollegiate at the Leilehua Golf Club in 2006. LBSU's final round score of 273 (-11) is the second-best single-round score in program history coming in just behind the 2014 club's score of 270 (-10) at the Del Walker Invitational at the Virginia Country Club.
Long Beach State finished the tournament with three top-20 finishers as freshman Owen Avrit finished in a tie for ninth place as he shot 8-under par, while sophomore Bryce Kvick finished tied for 16th after shooting 5-under.
Epson had a solid final round with three birdies and an eagle before winning the tournament with his fourth birdie of the day.
The Beach will be back in action on Monday, Oct. 7 at the Alister Mackenzie Invitational in Fairfax, Calif. The first two rounds will be played on Monday, while the final round will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
Team Results
1. BYU 281-273-268 = 822 (-30)
2. Long Beach State 274-280-273 = 827 (-25)
3. San Jose State 280-280-269 = 829 (-23)
T4. San Diego 281-279-273 = 833 (-19)
T4. Fresno State 283-272-278 = 833 (-19)
6. UC Santa Barbara 288-280-278 = 846 (-6)
7. CSUN 280-280-290 = 850 (-2)
8. Seattle 296-286-271 = 853 (+1)
9. Pacific 284-282-289 = 855 (+3)
10. Sacramento State 292-284-280 = 856 (+4)
11. Gonzaga 287-294-280 = 861 (+9)
12. UC Irvine 296-282-287 = 865 (+13)
13. Cal Poly 297-286-285 = 868 (+16)
14. Cal Baptist 287-296-290 = 873 (+21)
15. UC Riverside 302-301-309 = 912 (+60)
Individual Results
1. Hunter Epson 68-64-68 = 200 (-13)
T9. Owen Avrit 69-72-64 = 205 (-8)
T16. Bryce Kvick 68-70-70 = 208 (-5)
T41 Isaac Rodea 69-75-72 = 216 (+3)
T41 Hunter Reed 71-74-71 = 216 (+3)
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
Women's Volleyball Post Game Press Conference vs Hawai'i (LBSU wins 3-0)
Saturday, October 18
Women's Volleyball Post Game Press Conference vs UCSD (LBSU Wins 3-1)
Friday, October 17
Women's Volleyball Post Game Press Conference vs Cal Poly
Sunday, October 05
Women's Volleyball Post Game Press Conference vs UC Santa Barbara
Saturday, October 04
