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CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's golf team shot a 5-under 283 in the final round of the Big West Championships to win the team title Tuesday afternoon at Industry Hills Golf Club's par-72, 6,989-yard "Ike" Eisenhower Course.
 
The 'Eaters, who entered the tournament as the No. 7 seed, claimed their eighth conference championship and second in the last four years. Their last title came in 2015.
 
"I'm thrilled for these guys," head coach Paul Smolinski said. "This is the best tournament we've had all year, and it was by far the best single day of golf we've had as a team. We really had nothing to lose. We just wanted to stay loose and stay with the process. That's what it's all about for us, staying with the process and having them play the way they know they need to in order to play their best golf."
 
The Anteaters had their three lowest rounds of the year to finish first at 12-under 852 (284-285-283). They edged out UC Davis (853) by one stroke for the title, while UC Santa Barbara took third (860).

UCI held a three-stroke lead over UCD when the last group reached the 18th hole. The Aggies' Ryan Han sank a birdie putt to close the gap, but sophomore Jonathan Kang stayed calm under pressure, sending a tough chip shot onto the green and about 12 feet from the hole. He was then able to two-putt for the one-stroke victory.
 
Kang, who led UC Irvine through the first two rounds, closed out the afternoon with an even-par 72. He had three crucial birdies on the back nine, and finished with a team-best 15 over the three-day span. Kang was fifth overall with a season-low 4-under 212 (69-71-72). It was his first top-10 showing of the year.
 
Senior David Kim continued to climb the leaderboard, moving up three spots into a tie for third as he carded his second-straight 3-under 69. He was even at the turn before making birdie on Holes 10, 13 and 14. Kim notched his best career finish at the Big West Championships with a 54-hole score of 5-under 211 (73-69-69).
 
Junior Ramiz Jamal and senior Ryan O'Connor tied for 11th at even-par 216. Jamal (71-75-70), who jumped 11 spots in the standings on the final day, recorded his personal low round of the tournament as he birdied the 17th and 18th to put him at 2-under 70.
 
O'Connor also played very steady, shooting a 72 (E). He remained consistent on the back nine where he was 5-under for the tournament. Nine of his 14 birdies came on holes 10-18.
 
Senior Jonathan Young tied for 23rd with a three-round total of 220 (76-72-72). He had two clutch birdies on the 14th and 18th that helped give the 'Eaters some separation in the standings.
 
Han (UCD) and UC Santa Barbara's Brandon Bauman tied for individual medalist honors at 8-under 208. Han ended up winning a two-hole playoff to claim the title.
 
UC Irvine automatically qualifies for one of six NCAA Regionals scheduled for May 14-16. Sites are the Brookside Golf and Country Club in Stockton, Calif., Reunion Resort in Reunion, Fla., Lonnie Poole Golf Course at NC State in Raleigh, N.C., OSU Golf Club in Columbus, Ohio, Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla., and Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas. The selection announcement will take place on Wednesday, May 2, at 3 p.m. (PDT), on Golf Channel.