California Baptist University
The Joust
Kujanpaa Wins Individual Title After Epic Playoff Victory
2/21/2023 7:36:00 PM | Men's Golf
JURUPA VALLEY – California Baptist University men's golf closed out the annual Joust Tournament against 12 other teams on Tuesday after it went to extra holes to determine the individual champion. Eeli Kujanpaa made CBU history when he won that two-hole playoff, becoming the first Lancer to win a men's individual tournament championship in the Division I era.
The team event would go home with Cal State Fullerton, who had a phenomenal final day, improving three strokes to record a score of 3-over for 54 holes (855). UC Irvine, who started the day atop the standings, gave back 13-strokes in the wind to finish in second with a +7 (859). The Lancers took third with a 6-over third round to finish with a +13 (865) for the tournament. The rest of the field in order was: Gonzaga (+16/868), CSUN (+17/869), UC San Diego (+33/885), Utah Tech (+39/891), British Columbia (+41/893), UC Riverside (+48/900), Cal Lu (+66/918), La Verne (+77/929), Whittier (+107/959), and Chapman (+118/970).
Kujanpaa was in the hunt for all three rounds, making a significant move on Tuesday afternoon by shooting a 67 to force a playoff against a Cal State Fullerton opponent. Both players birdied the first playoff hole, so they played it again, with Eeli sinking a short putt in the end to earn CBU men's golf's first Division I Individual Tournament Champion. He was 5-under (69-72-67/208) for the three rounds, half of which were played in significant winds.
🏆TOURNAMENT CHAMPION🏆
Eeli Kujanpaa wins a two-hole playoff on the final day to take The Joust Individual Championship#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/ECvu7CGjlU
Henri Nishiwaki was CBU's top-finishing independent player, closing the tournament in a tie for 24th place at +7 (220) overall.
The Lancers will head to Phoenix next to take on the field at the GCU Invitational on March 13-14, held at GCU Golf Course.
