Bellinghamgolfer.com

After a few encouraging signs recently, the Western men's team entered the seventh annual Great Northwest Athletic (GNAC) Championship at 6,803-yard Coeur d'Alene in good spirits and looking for its seventh straight win. And it looked good after the first day when the defending champions posted rounds of 296 and 290 for a 36-hole total of 586, and a four-shot lead over nearest rival Northwest Nazarene (NNU).
But a final round 311 for a 54-hole total of 897 pushed the team back into fourth place, five shots behind NNU and St. Martin's who were tied at the top of the leaderboard after 54 holes (NNU won the playoff at the first extra hole when Connor Magnusson eagled the par 5 1st).
WWU’s Kyle Schrader who opened with rounds of 71 and 69 on Monday to lead the individual event, fell away yesterday with a final round 80. Chris Hatch tied for fourth on 221, Craig Crawford tied for 14th on 228, Brennan Emory was T17 on 230, and Mark Strickland was 19th on 232.
Simon Frazer University's Kevin Vigna was medalist, closing with a 71 for a three-round total of 213. Schrader and St. Martin's Ryan Baumgart tied for second seven shots back.
Despite the poor showing, WWU is still expected to earn a berth in the NCAA Division II West/South Central Regional on May 5-7.
Results here.