WAIKOLOA, Hawaii – Academy of Art Men’s Golf began the day one shot off the team lead at the Pacific West Conference Championship, and thanks to a combined 5-over-par 285 in the final round, Art U vaulted two other teams to claim its first-ever PacWest Team Championship in program history by finishing at 21-over-par 861. Three Urban Knights made the All-Tournament Team after posting top-10 finishes, led by the junior duo Julius Kreutzer and Matthew Watkins, each making it inside the top-3.
“I’m so proud of the entire team, they all work so hard, and they deserved to enjoy this moment,” said Art U Head Coach Andy Moren. “Matt and Julius were steady all week. They really showed grit and perseverance each round.”
Just a day after combining for the lowest single round in the tournament (283), Art U followed it up with the second-lowest round of the tournament (285), leading the Knights to shoot the third-lowest three-round score in program history with the 861. Par-5 holes are where Art U did the most damage, as they had the lowest par-5 score as a team while three Urban Knights posted the best individual par-5 totals. With another 13 birdies on the day, Academy of Art led all teams with a total of 40.
Nearly capturing the individual title at the tournament was Kreutzer, as he garnered a runner-up finish at 2-under-par 208 after he fell one stroke shy of the individual winner Keita Okada of Hawaii Pacific. Kreutzer carded a final round of 1-under-par 69 with a total of four birdies, and while he could not vault three spots to capture first place, he did tie his career-low three-round score.
Joining Kreutzer on the All-Tournament team was Watkins, who ended the tournament in a tie for third place after shooting an even-par 70 in all three rounds to end at even-par 210. Just as crucial in the Knights bid for first place was senior Gabriel De Leon Manotoc, using a round of 1-over-par 71 to finish in a tie for sixth place at 5-over-par 215. All three would end the tournament with a total of 10 birdies, tying for the third most of all participants. Rounding out the scoring was senior Otto Homruen, who tied for 18th place with a final score of 18-over-par 228.
The Knights will extend their season and move on to participate in the NCAA DII West/South Central Regionals beginning on May 6.