March 12, 2008

Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. - Western Carolina posted its second-straight, sixth-place finish to open its spring season, advancing two places on Tuesday at the 2008 Callaway Golf Invitational, hosted by the Univ. of San Diego at the par 72, 6,911-yard Farms Golf Club.

Wichita State claimed the tournament championship with a two-day, three-round total of 853, or 11-under. Tournament host, San Diego, finished second eight strokes in arrears at 861, with Saint Mary's (Calif.) in third one stroke back at 862. Rounding out the top five were Arkansas (875) and UC Santa Barbara (888), just two strokes ahead of the Catamounts.

WCU edged fellow Southern Conference member, College of Charleston, by two positions and three strokes. The Cougars were eighth with a three-round total of 893.

Senior Matt Cook finished with a two-under 70 on Tuesday to shoot a two-over, 218, for the event to tie for 11th overall to lead the Catamounts. The Murphy, N.C., native was tied for third with 13 pars over the two-day event. Junior Andres Cuenca finished tied for 17th after firing 77, 71 and 72 for a 220, two strokes back of Cook.

Both Cook and Cuenca were tied for 20th after the opening two rounds of play.

Rounding out Western's scorers were freshman Caleb Marsh, who recovered from an opening round 83 to shoot 74 and 72 (229) and finish tied for 48th with sophomore teammate, Ricky Stout (77-77-75). Marsh was one of only four golfers to finish even-par on the par 4 holes, while Stout was tied for eighth in par 5 scoring at four-under. Junior Dustin Furnari concluded scoring for WCU finishing tied for 73rd after shooting 239.

Dustin Garza took home individual medalist honors for the Shockers after shooting a six-under 210, to edge St. Mary's Joshua Kelley (212) by two strokes. Wichita State's Ryan Spears and San Diego's Gunner Wiebe were tied for third at 213, with Andrew Landry (214) from Arkansas rounding out the top five individual finishers.

Western Carolina returns to action March 16-17 at the Pinehurst Intercollegiate, co-hosted by East Carolina and Indiana, at the No. 8 course.

6 Western Carolina U. 303 298 289 890
T 11 Matt Cook 72 76 70 218
T 17 Andres Cuenca 77 71 72 220
T 48 Caleb Marsh 83 74 72 229
T 48 Ricky Stout 77 77 75 229
T 73 Dustin Furnari 77 82 80 239