SONOMA, Calif. – The Cal State Monterey Bay men's golf team is heating up at the right time as the Otters claimed their first tournament title of the season, winning the Sonoma State Spring Invitational at the Sonoma Golf Club. Senior Simon Björken (Hudiksval, Sweden) took home medalist honors in thrilling fashion to lead CSUMB to victory on Tuesday.
 
Björken won the tournament title by taking down Chico State's Naoki Easterday on the second playoff hole, sinking a 19-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18^th. The Swede carded a 1-under 71 to finish the tournament at 5-under 211.
 
Senior Tommy Kimberling (Rancho Cucamonga/Los Osos HS) nabbed a top-10 finish by placing eighth overall at 4-over 220. The Rancho Cucamonga native carded a final round score of even-par 72 to post his best round of the tournament.
 
Liam Allder (Sundsvall, Sweden) cracked the top-25 by placing t-23^rd with a three-round score of 10-over 226. The senior fired a six-over 78 in the final round of play.
 
Wilhelm Berg von Linde (Stockholm, Sweden) placed 32^nd overall with a score of 13-over 229. The senior carded a final round score of 7-over 79. Jack Deaner (Carmichael/Jesuit HS) rounded out the all-senior lineup t-43^rd with a score of 19-over 235.
 
The Otters ran away with the team title, outdistancing runner-up Simon Fraser by nine strokes. CSUMB takes home the hardware with a final team score of 18-over 882.
 
Playing as an individual, junior Colin Huang (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona Del Mar HS) placed t-15^th at 6-over, firing a final round 1-under 71. Newcomer Nick Savano (Windsor, Calif./Windsor HS), finished 49^th individually at 20-over.
 
The Otters will return to the course for their final tune-up before CCAA Tournament play as they head to the Turlock Golf & Country Club to participate in The Hanny, hosted by Stanislaus State. The two-day event will begin on Monday, April 14.