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LAKE CHARLES, La. – Surrounded by strong competition, the Oakland University men’s golf team recorded its second-best team score of the season at the Golden Nugget Invitational, earning an eighth-place finish.

Competing at the Country Club at the Golden Nugget (par 72, 7,000 yards), the Golden Grizzlies posted a four-under-par total of 860. The score ties for the ninth-best 54-hole total in Oakland men’s golf history, matching the team’s performance at the FAU Spring Invitational in 2018. Earlier this season, Oakland carded an 858 at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational, finishing second overall. That effort is tied for the sixth-best 54-hole score in program history, alongside the 2021 Earl Yestingmeier Invitational.

As a team, Oakland tied for third in eagles with two, ranked fifth in par-5 scoring average (4.62), and tied for fifth in par-3 scoring average (3.13). The Golden Grizzlies recorded 52 birdies and 168 pars over the two-day event.

In his first appearance since the Badger Invitational, freshman Rakshit Dahiya led Oakland, tying for 19th with a score of 212, matching his performance in Wisconsin. Dahiya tied for seventh in par-5 scoring average at 4.42, and accounted for one of the team’s two eagles.

Posting his best to-par performance of the season, junior Matteo Rocco tied for 30th with a two-under-par 214. Rocco improved each round, closing with a three-under-par 69, one of his best rounds of the year. He also tied for 10th in total birdies with 37 and continues to be a key contributor for Oakland.

Junior Jack Zubkus tied for 43rd, at one-over-par 217. He led the team with an even-par scoring average on par 3s and recorded the most birdies in a single round by an Oakland golfer this week, sinking six in the final round.

Sophomore Brennan Sullivan and individual competitor senior Ellis Kinnaird finished back-to-back in 49th and tied for 50th, respectively. Sullivan recorded Oakland’s second eagle during the final round, led the team with 13 birdies overall, and matched Dahiya with a 4.42 par-5 scoring average. Kinnaird led the team in par-4 scoring average at 3.97.

Rounding out Oakland’s performances were individual competitor junior Robert Burns and senior Luke Kelly. Burns tied for 52nd and led the team after the first round with a three-under-par 69, matching Zubkus with six birdies in the round. Kelly led the team in total pars made with 38 and tied for sixth among all golfers in pars.

With three more invitationals remaining before the Horizon League Championship, the Golden Grizzlies are in a strong position to fine-tune their game and prepare for a peak performance at the end of April.

OU RESULTS

Team: 291 | 286 | 283 = 860 (-4)

T19. Rakshit Dahiya: 72 | 68 | 72 = 212 (-4)

T30. Matteo Rocco: 74 | 71 | 69 = 214 (-2)

T43. Jack Zubkus: 71 | 74 | 72 = 217 (+1)

49. Brennan Sullivan: 74 | 74 | 70 = 218 (+2)

T50. Ellis Kinnaird (IND): 74 | 72 | 73 = 219 (+3)

T52. Robert Burns (IND): 69 | 75 | 76 = 220 (+4)

T59. Luke Kelly: 76 | 73 | 75 = 224 (+8)

Complete results of the invitational can be found on Clippd.

UP NEXT: The Golden Grizzlies head to Greenville, N.C., to compete in the ECU Intercollegiate, March 16-17.

How to Follow Oakland Men’s Golf: For complete information on Oakland Men’s Golf, follow the team on Instagram and X at @OaklandMGolf.