Monday, September 8
Chandler, AZ
USC
vs
Whirlwind Invitational
Photo by: Daryl Webb
Antonio Safa Sets School Record as USC Men's Golf Wins Whirlwind Invitational
September 09, 2025 | Men's Golf
CHANDLER, Ariz. – Antonio Safa won the individual title at the Whirlwind Invitational on Tuesday, setting a new USC record for a 54-hole finish with a 17-under-par 199, and the USC men's golf team posted the second best tournament score in program history with a 52-under 812 to win the team title at the season-opening tournament.
USC had four of the Top 5 individual finishers at the tournament, with Jaden Dumdumaya and Jack Buchanan tying for second and Luke Stock finishing tied for fifth. It was the first tournament win of Safa's career and the first individual title for a Trojan since 2023. This marks the second straight year USC has won its first tournament of the season after the Trojans also won the Southern Dunes Invitational last year.
"I'm proud of how we started the day with a team lead and each guy was continuing to push individually to help us increase the lead," said Head Coach Mark Hankins. "Overall great scores for the week by the entire team. Four individuals in the top five with Antonio setting a new USC 54-hole individual scoring record to par at -17 feels good. We kept our heads down and didn't worry about the outcome. We were coaching and making birdies right up to the last hole. This also identifies a few things to improve on into our next event at New Mexico."
USC's 52-under par finish was the lowest since the Trojans posted a 54-under 810 in 2005 at the Waikoloa Intercollegiate. USC finished 12 strokes ahead of Arkansas State in the team standings as the Trojans led wire-to-wire at the tournament.
After shooting 64-67 on day one of the event, Safa finished with a 68 on Tuesday to grab the individual title by three strokes. Safa led the field in birdies with 22 over the course of his 54 holes, and had the top Par 4 scoring average (-15).
Dumdumaya had the low round of the day for USC, shooting a 65 to move up six spots into a tie for second. Buchanan closed his tournament with a 67 after shooting 66-69 on Monday. Dumdumaya's 65 matched his career low round and Buchanan's second-place finished also matched a career best.
Stock was one of two Trojans competing as an individual at the tournament and the recent grad transfer addition impressed, firing an overall score of 204 (-12) to tie for fifth. Stock had just three bogeys all tournament.
Raghav Gulati and Nicolas Dominguez rounded out the lineup for the Trojans, with Gulati finishing with a 213 (-3) and Dominguez with a 215 (-1). Kai Komulainen was USC's other individual entrant in the tournament and the sophomore transfer shot 212 (-4) to finish 29th. All seven USC players at the event finished under par.
INDIVIDUAL SCORES:
1. Antonio Safa, -17, 199 (64-67-68)
T2. Jack Buchanan, -14, 202 (66-69-67)
T2. Jaden Dumdumaya, -14, 202 (70-67-65)
T5. Luke Stock (Ind.), -12, 204 (68-67-69)
T29. Kai Komulainen (Ind.), -4, 212 (72-70-70)
T33. Raghav Gulati, -3, 213 (70-69-74)
T38. Nicolas Dominguez, -1, 215 (69-75-71)
TEAM LEADERBOARD
USC had four of the Top 5 individual finishers at the tournament, with Jaden Dumdumaya and Jack Buchanan tying for second and Luke Stock finishing tied for fifth. It was the first tournament win of Safa's career and the first individual title for a Trojan since 2023. This marks the second straight year USC has won its first tournament of the season after the Trojans also won the Southern Dunes Invitational last year.
"I'm proud of how we started the day with a team lead and each guy was continuing to push individually to help us increase the lead," said Head Coach Mark Hankins. "Overall great scores for the week by the entire team. Four individuals in the top five with Antonio setting a new USC 54-hole individual scoring record to par at -17 feels good. We kept our heads down and didn't worry about the outcome. We were coaching and making birdies right up to the last hole. This also identifies a few things to improve on into our next event at New Mexico."
USC's 52-under par finish was the lowest since the Trojans posted a 54-under 810 in 2005 at the Waikoloa Intercollegiate. USC finished 12 strokes ahead of Arkansas State in the team standings as the Trojans led wire-to-wire at the tournament.
After shooting 64-67 on day one of the event, Safa finished with a 68 on Tuesday to grab the individual title by three strokes. Safa led the field in birdies with 22 over the course of his 54 holes, and had the top Par 4 scoring average (-15).
Dumdumaya had the low round of the day for USC, shooting a 65 to move up six spots into a tie for second. Buchanan closed his tournament with a 67 after shooting 66-69 on Monday. Dumdumaya's 65 matched his career low round and Buchanan's second-place finished also matched a career best.
Stock was one of two Trojans competing as an individual at the tournament and the recent grad transfer addition impressed, firing an overall score of 204 (-12) to tie for fifth. Stock had just three bogeys all tournament.
Raghav Gulati and Nicolas Dominguez rounded out the lineup for the Trojans, with Gulati finishing with a 213 (-3) and Dominguez with a 215 (-1). Kai Komulainen was USC's other individual entrant in the tournament and the sophomore transfer shot 212 (-4) to finish 29th. All seven USC players at the event finished under par.
INDIVIDUAL SCORES:
1. Antonio Safa, -17, 199 (64-67-68)
T2. Jack Buchanan, -14, 202 (66-69-67)
T2. Jaden Dumdumaya, -14, 202 (70-67-65)
T5. Luke Stock (Ind.), -12, 204 (68-67-69)
T29. Kai Komulainen (Ind.), -4, 212 (72-70-70)
T33. Raghav Gulati, -3, 213 (70-69-74)
T38. Nicolas Dominguez, -1, 215 (69-75-71)
TEAM LEADERBOARD
| Place | Team | R1 | R2 | R3 | Total |
| 1st | USC | 269 | 272 | 271 | 812 |
| 3rd | Arkansas State | 270 | 277 | 277 | 824 |
| 2nd | UTEP | 274 | 272 | 279 | 825 |
| T4th | New Mexico State | 286 | 271 | 278 | 835 |
| T4th | Stetson | 284 | 282 | 273 | 839 |
| 6th | James Madison | 279 | 278 | 282 | 839 |
| T7th | Eastern Michigan | 276 | 288 | 281 | 845 |
| T7th | Georgia State | 281 | 290 | 277 | 848 |
| T9th | UT Arlington | 285 | 281 | 286 | 852 |
| T9th | San Francisco | 281 | 290 | 291 | 862 |
| 11th | Northern Colorado | 290 | 291 | 281 | 862 |
| 12th | George Washington | 292 | 292 | 279 | 863 |
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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