PULLMAN, Wash. – Redshirt-senior Sang Lee earned his first career individual title at the Itani Quality Homes Collegiate at Washington State University's Palouse Ridge Golf Club, tying California's Chris Shaw. Lee led the Cougar men's golf team to a fourth-place finish on the windy, par-70 course. The Cougars finished 2-over par (842) in a field that featured seven Pac-12 opponents. Lee finished the tournament 6-under par (204) with 11 birdies through the opening 36 holes.

“I'm very satisfied,” Lee said. “My dad came to watch this week, and this was the first event that he's watched. It's surreal. I'm really happy that happened. I think, especially with the field that we had – it was a very strong field, and for me to go out there and win, hopefully it pushes the other guys to do well.”

The Cougars carded a 298 (+18) in the final round and finished five strokes back from third-place California. WSU finished ahead of Pac-12 foes Washington (+6, 846), Arizona State (+7, 847), Oregon State (+8, 848), and Utah (+15, 855). Oregon (-6, 834) took home the team title after winning a playoff on the first hole (18) against USC (-6, 834).

“Overall, great effort by the guys,” Cougar Head Coach Garrett Clegg said. “Sang Lee was incredible all three days. We would've liked a more complete effort today. The final round we didn't finish the way we needed to finish as a group. But overall, a really great performance by the guys on Monday. All five guys were just outstanding. Today we just needed a little bit better effort.”

Freshman Derek Bayley notched the first top-10 performance of his career, tying for 10th. Bayley finished 1-under (69) in both the second and third rounds to finish 1-under (209) in the tournament. Junior Evan Omelia, competing as an individual, earned his second top-25 finish in three tournaments. Omelia (+2, 212) finished tied for 23rd.

“When the Pac-12 Championships are here, we should be a team that can compete to win it,” Clegg said. “If we'd have had a decent performance today, we would've been right there with the very best in our conference. There were a few teams missing; however, I think our guys are now extremely confident. They can go toe-to-toe with anyone out here on our course or anywhere.”

The Cougars will now take a week off before returning to action at the Alister MacKenzie Invitational in Fairfax, Calif., Oct. 13-14.