Sept. 16, 2008
Final Kansas Invitational Results in PDF Format 
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Sophomore Austin Graham fired a 4-under 68 on Tuesday to win medalist honors at the Kansas Invitational while the UC Davis men's golf team - buoyed by three players in the top five - posted the only below-par score of the day to post an eight-shot victory at the 16-team event.
Graham, whose 6-under 210 total gave him a four-shot win over second-round leader Trent Peterson of South Dakota State, was joined atop the leaderboard by teammates Nate Pistacchio and Ramie Sprinkling who were third and tied for fourth, respectively. Pistacchio ended the 54-hole tournament at the 7.092-yard Alvamar Golf Club at 1-under while Sprinkling - who tied with Nathan Sheen of North Texas - was even.
The Aggies were tied with TCU for second after Monday's 36 holes, one shot behind South Dakota State. However, UC Davis shot a 3-under 285 - the only team to shoot in the red on Tuesday - to blitz past the rest of the field and win by eight strokes with a three-round total of 1-over 865.
"I think we played the same as we did the first two rounds but we didn't give away as many shots today," said Aggie coach Cy Williams.
TCU earned runner-up honors at 9-over 873 with host Kansas in third at 18 over. South Dakota State shot 305 to slip all the way to fourth at 20 over while Oklahoma City University was fifth at 24 over.
UC Davis freshman Tyler Raber had a 74 and tied for 28th at 8 over while Brent Booth shot 75 and tied for 35th at 10 over.
The team title was the Aggies' second in their last four tournaments going back to last season, joining their win at the 20-team Wyoming Cowboy Classic in April. Graham, from San Clemente, is the team's first medalist since former standout Louie Bishop claimed the Wyoming tournament in 2007. Graham, who led the field with 14 birdies, posted his third top-10 career finish and his lowest 54-hole total relative to par. He also posted his sixth round in the 60's.
"Austin just put the ball a little bit closer and made a few good putts and that's why he won," said Williams.
Pistacchio added his second straight top-three finish after tying for third at the Big West Championships last season and was in the top three for third time in his career. Sprinkling tied his best career finish after tying for fourth in a pair of tournaments last season.
UC Davis will keep busy this week, traveling to Ann Arbor, Mich., this weekend for the Wolverine Intercollegiate. The tournament runs Saturday and Sunday and is hosted by the University of Michigan.
KANSAS INVITATIONAL
Lawrence, Kan.
Alvamar Golf Club
par 72, 7,092 yards
Final
TEAM
1. UC Davis, 290-290-285-865
2. TCU, 294-286-293-873
3. Kansas, 297-287-298-882
4. South Dakota State, 292-287-305-884
5. Oklahoma City, 301-293-294-888
6. Louisiana-Lafayette, 295-297-297-889
7. Illinois State, 304-288-302-894
T8. Nebraska, 298-295-302-895
T8. Rice, 303-295-297-895
10. North Texas, 297-300-303-900
11. Western Kentucky, 304-298-302-904
12. Missouri-Kansas City, 298-304-303-905
13. Cleveland State, 309-399-302-910
14. Northern Iowa, 312-294-313-919
15. Evansville, 314-306-316-936
16. South Dakota, 333-319-317-969
INDIVIDUALS
1. Austin Graham, UC Davis, 72-70-68-210
UC DAVIS
3. Nate Pistacchio, 69-73-73-215
T4. Ramie Sprinkling, 73-73-70-216
T28. Tyler Raber, 76-74-74-224
T35. Brent Booth, 76-75-75-226
