PULLMAN, Wash. -- A final round five-under 279 team score lifted San Jose State to a season opening victory at the Palouse Collegiate Invitational in Pullman, Wash.
Heading into the final 18 holes, the Spartans held a nine stroke lead over host Washington State.
Four out of five final round scores in red figures boosted San Jose State to the tournament win by 17 strokes over second place Utah Valley University.
Christopher Lang, Matthew Hovan and Justin Estrada all shot one-under 70's on the final 18 holes helping the Spartans to be the only school under par for the tournament at 842 (-10).
Daniel Semmler for the Spartans opened the tournament well with a level par 71 and went on to finish the contest in a tie for 31st place out of 79 players in the field with a seven-over 220.
Jay Myers was the low man for the Spartans with rounds of 69-71-69 for a four-under 209. Myers finished in second place individually for the tournament, four strokes behind Jarred Bossio of Idaho at eight-under 205.
"This win was a great team effort," said San Jose State head coach John Kennaday.
The Spartans led all teams at the Palouse Collegiate in par four scoring at 4.04 (+6) and par five scoring at 4.68 (-19). The win is the first for San Jose State since the Pat Hicks Thunderbird Golf Invitational in February of 2009.
"We got this win by sticking to our game plan, then focusing and executing our shots," Kennaday said. "We still have work to do, but we are in good position to get better as the weeks go on."
San Jose State men's golf is back in action at the Dash Thomas Memorial Invitational in Boise Idaho on September 26-27.