KINGSBURG, Calif. - UC Irvine men's golf had their best round of the season-opening Nick Watney Invitational to finish sixth out of 16 teams Tuesday at Kings River Golf & Country Club.
 
The Anteaters carded a 279 in the final round, closing out the two-day event with a 54-hole score of 5-under 847 (286-282-279).
 
Long Beach State claimed the team title at 822 (-30) as they came in five strokes ahead of Cal State Fullerton (827). Host Fresno State took third and Grand Canyon was fourth, while Seattle U (838) was able to pass UCI on the leaderboard for fifth with a 267, the best round of the tournament.
 
Junior Kolbe Irei led the 'Eaters in a tie for 20th with a three-round total of 212 (73-69-70). After back-to-back birdies, he fired the team's first eagle of the year to get to 2-under with two holes remaining in the final round.
 
Redshirt freshman Jin Nakao also tied for 30th at even-par 213 (67-72-74). Freshman Andy Zou wasn't far behind in a tie for 34th with a 214 (72-72-70). Zou had a steady final round with two birdies and only one bogey.
 
Junior Darien Zhao had UCI's best round of the day as he continued to climb the leaderboard, moving up 12 more spots into a tie for 37th. Zhao came in at 2-under 69 for a total of 215 (77-69-69).
 
Freshman Rei Harashima registered his first round under par to jump five spots into a tie for 44th at 216 (74-72-70).

LBSU's Ian Gilligan and Cal State Fullerton's Harry Doig tied for first at 14-under 199 with Gilligan winning the playoff.

UC Irvine will return to action, Oct. 10-11, at the Bill Cullum Invitational in Valencia, California.