JURUPA VALLEY, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's golf team claimed runner-up honors with four individuals placing among the top-20 at The Joust Tuesday at Goose Creek Golf Club.
 
UCI matched its best finish of the 2022-23 season as it also took second at the Visit Stockton Invitational back in October.
 
The Anteaters combined for a 5-count-4 total of 859 (279-289-297), coming in four strokes behind team champion Cal State Fullerton (288-286-281--855).  The 'Eaters owned a six-stroke lead after the conclusion of the second round but were unable to hold off the surging Titans.
 
Freshman Rei Harashima led UC Irvine with his first collegiate top-10 showing as he was third overall at 4-under 209 (65-73-71). In Tuesday's final round, Harashima found himself at 2-over before he birdied two of his final three holes to get to even-par and pull withinn one stroke of Garrett Boe (Fullerton) and Eeli Kujanpaa (California Baptist), who tied for first at 208. Harashima's first-round 65 stood as the best 18-hole score of the tournament.
 
Junior Darien Zhao added his second top-10 performance of the season, tying for eighth at 2-over 215 (71-68-76). Zhao closed out the tournament with a team-leading 12 birdies.
 
Freshman Andy Zou notched the best finish of his young collegiate career as he tied for 11th. Zou was steady over the course of the two days, carding a 4-over 217 (72-72-73).
 
Redshirt freshman Jin Nakao also tied for 18th with a 219 (72-70-77), while sophomore Johnny Bai rounded out UCI's 5-count-4 lineup in a tie for 49th (228).
 
UC Irvine returns to action, March 1-3, with the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate at the Classic Club in Palm Desert, California.