Robert Kepler Intercollegiate
Szeto Captures Ohio State’s Kepler Invitational by Six Strokes
4/19/2025 1:09:00 PM | Men's Golf
Cal Poly Men's Golf
Upcoming Rounds
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Holding a one-shot lead entering Saturday morning’s final round of Ohio State’s Robert Kepler Invitational, senior Baron Szeto fired a two-under 69 to capture the individual title by six strokes with a three-round total of five-under 208.
At the par-71, 7,455-yard OSU Golf Club Scarlet Course, Szeto – the nation’s 129th-ranked player – birdied four of his opening six holes before adding two additional birdies on the back nine. He bogeyed four holes and posted par on the remaining eight.
Earning his third collegiate title following the 2023 Big West Championship and 2024 Wake Forest Lyon’s Links Invitational at Royal Dublin Golf Club (Dublin Ireland), Szeto opened Kepler Invitational play Friday with a one-over 72 in the opening round before going four under in the second.
Szeto finished as the only individual under par in the 72-player field.
“I know this tournament win means a lot to Baron and his pride will only grow as the years go by,” Cal Poly head coach Phil Rowe said. “It’s his final regular season tournament and, adding to that, the legacy of this tournament, which goes back 53 years.
“This challenging course was restored from an original Alister MacKenzie (1931 design) by Ohio State alum Jack Nicklaus in 2006 and the tournament is hosted by a giant in the world of collegiate athletics in Ohio State. The Szeto and Cal Poly families are elated with this victory and we’ll use it to spur us on at The Big West Championship next week at La Quinta Country Club.”
Elsewhere on the leaderboard for Cal Poly, senior Parker Mapes finished 20th with a four-over 75 Saturday and three-round, 12-over 225 (77-73-75). Playing as an independent, sophomore Louis Pilod finished 38th with a 16-over 229 (75-74-80).
Sophomore Leo Metzger enjoyed three birdies Saturday as part of a five-over 76 and, climbing one spot to 44th, a three-round total of 17-over 230 (77-77-76). Freshman Nolan Kuszyk was one shot behind with a final 231 (79-73-79). Sophomore Reese Sato contributed two more birdies Saturday and finished 61st with a final 237 (83-77-77).
As a program, Cal Poly closed its regular season tournament schedule in fifth place with a 40-over 892. The host Buckeyes won the event with a 24-over 876.
The Mustangs next pursue the program’s first Big West Championship title since 2006 when opening postseason play at La Quinta Country Club with the first of three rounds on Sunday, April 27.
Image courtesy of Ohio State Athletics
