March 24, 2001
Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii - A career-low 65 by individual medalist junior Eric Mason and a dramatic final round comeback by Western Kentucky wasn't enough to keep defending champion San Diego from claiming the 2001 Kauai Collegiate Cup at the Princeville Makai Golf Course Saturday.
The Toreros, who won last year's inaugural Kauai Collegiate Cup by two strokes over the Hilltoppers, shot a 7-under 281 in the final round to claim the title with a three-round score of 869. San Diego was led by sophomore David Isaacson, who tied Mason with a tournament-low 65 in the final round to grab third place overall with a 212.
Western Kentucky, who entered Saturday's final round in fifth place, shot a tournament-low 16-under 274 to climb back into contention. Mason fired a career-best 207 with his final round, holding off Cincinnati sophomore Neil Lykins, who eagled the 18th hole to record a 66. Senior Chris Cassell also shot a 6-under 66 in the final round to climb into the top-10 with a 216, tying Samford's Andy McRae for sixth. Western sophomore John Mullendore shot 1-under Saturday to finish 16th. San Diego's Ryan Hanratty, who finished second at last year's tournament, tied Eastern Michigan's Brad Pemberton for fourth with a 215.
The Eagles led San Diego by a stroke after the first two rounds, but failed to match the Hilltoppers and Toreros and finished third with a 880. EMU's Jaysen Hansen had a three-day total of 221 to tie USD's Michael Shelly for 10th place. Dartmouth's Lee Birchall, who led after the first round with a 70, shot an even-par 72 to place eighth. Drake's Brian Smith rounded out the top-10 with a 220, good for ninth place.
Mason picks up his third career victory and becomes the second Hilltopper to grab individual medalist honors for the tournament host. WKU's Charlie Cornette shot a 215 to claim last year's title.
Marquette, who placed all five players in the top-20, finished fourth. Led by Lykins second-place finish, Cincinnati finished fifth followed by Samford, Drake and Dartmouth.
