Two Vikings placed among the top ten in medalist play as Western Washington University finished fourth in the team standings, eight shots behind the winner Western New Mexico, at the Cal Baptist University Men’s Golf Invitational played at Menifee Lakes Country Club, 80 miles southeast of Los Angeles. It was a significant improvement on their first tournament of the spring - the St. Edward's University Invitational - where they finished tied for tenth. WWU began the final day in Menifee five strokes out of the lead, and shot a final-round 302 for a 54-hole total of 16-over 880. Western New Mexico won with a score of 872 following a closing 299, while Colorado Christian (291) and Simon Fraser (301) tied for second at 875 in the 18-team field.
WWU’s Chris Hatch (above right) tied for seventh individually on one-under 215 (75) and Kyle Schrader tied for 10th on even par 216 (72).
“It was a big step in the right direction for us,” said coach Luke Bennett. “The conditions were quite a bit tougher today, the greens were much firmer. We did an excellent job of finishing, picking up four or five shots on a very tough 18th hole.”
The Vikings’ Mark Strickland tied for 29th on 223 (75), Brennan Emory tied for 50th on 229 (80), and Jack Kelly tied for 82nd on 238 (88).
Western New Mexico’s David Metz, playing as an individual, took medalist honors on nine-under 207 with a final-round 68 - three strokes better than runner-up Minkyu Jeon from Colorado Christian.
The Vikings next compete at the WNMU West/South Central Desert Shootout on April 7-8 in Goodyear, AZ.
