FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Washington State men's golf moved up one spot from 12th to finish 11th, Tuesday, after the third and final round of the Ram Masters Invitational, held at Fort Collins Country Club.

Washington State shot 292 (+12) in the third round to finish with a three-round score of 872 (+31), placing 11th. The Cougars finished just three strokes out of 10th as Cal State Fullerton finished +28, 868. Only one school shot under par throughout the tournament, as tournament-host Colorado State finished with a three-round score of -4, 836. Illinois State (+10, 850) and South Dakota (+14, 854) held their spots to finish second and third, respectively. 

"We played with good energy and enthusiasm this week," said head coach Dustin White. "We just need to avoid some simple mistakes and find a way to put three rounds together at the same time."

Senior AJ Armstrong led throughout the tournament for the Cougars, tying for 25th (+5, 215). Junior Nicklaus Chiam (+8, 218) and sophomore Ryan Maine (+11, 221) led the charge on the final day of play for the team, both carding a 72 (+2). Chiam moved up 11 spots to a tie for 38th. Maine showed improvement going into the final round as he took three strokes off his score from the day before, improving his placement 13 spots, to finish in a tie for 54th. 

Junior Daniel Kolar (+15, 225) also took advantage of the break and improved his day one score by four strokes. Senior Grant Cole (+15, 225) and Kolar both tied for 68th, a nine spot improvement from the day before.

"There's a lot of golf ahead of us and I like what I saw this week," said White. "We have a few days before we leave for our next event, and now we have three competitive rounds under our belt to draw from."

Next week, the Cougars make their way over the Cascades to Sammamish Wash., to play in the Husky Invitational at Aldarra Golf Course, Tuesday through Wednesday Sept. 25-26.

Washington State Results
Team
T-25. AJ Armstrong 69 (-1), 68 (-2), 78 (+8) = 215 (+5)
T-38. Nicklaus Chiam 75 (+5), 71 (+1), 72 (+2) = 218 (+8)
T-54. Ryan Maine 74 (+4), 75 (+5), 72 (+2) = 221 (+11)
T-68. Daniel Kolar 73 (+3), 78 (+8), 74 (+4) = 225 (+15)
T-68. Grant Cole 77 (+7), 74 (+4), 74 (+4) = 225 (+15)