Arizona had the best bounce-back performance possible by winning the Arizona Intercollegiate title for the fifth year in a row. Arizona edged out New Mexico by only one stroke and did so by shooting four strokes less in the final round to tally out at 35-under.
This tournament win is the first tournament victory for the Wildcats this season and was a terrific way to respond after losing to rival ASU last week.
Arizona’s Christian Banke finished first overall by shooting 14-under in three rounds. He topped the third round off with an astounding 66 on Tuesday. Banke walked off the green as he sunk a three-foot putt to give himself the individual victory along with the team title.
The next player for the Wildcats in the top ten was Chase Sienkiewicz, who shot nine under in the tournament and sunk an eagle on Tuesday to finish his round tied for sixth.
Santeri Lehesmaa rounded out the top 20 for Arizona with a 14th place finish, shooting 5-under par.
Shooting 35-under is a sixth best total in the program’s history and also is the second best score in team play ever for the Wildcats.
Arizona will continue their celebration until they next tee off which is at the John Burns Intercollegiate, in Hawaii. This tournament starts on Feb. 17 and is a two-day event.
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