The Vikings during yesterday's final practice round.
“We played poorly,” admitted WWU coach Luke Bennett. “The conditions weren’t that easy, but they weren’t that tough either. The good news is it happened in the first round and we have a couple of rounds to make up some ground.”
The Vikings, the No.6 seed in the West Region, were led by Craig Crawford and Mark Strickland who both shot two-over 74s to finish the day tied for 22nd. Both deserved better said Bennet as Strickland bogeyed the final two holes and Crawford made a double on his 18th. “It was too bad to see them finish that way," he added.
WWU’s Chris Hatch is tied for 63rd after a 78, Kyle Schrader, last year's Regionsl medalist, is tied for 95th following an 83, and Brennan Emory shot 90 to finish the day in 108th place.
Defending champion and nationally No.3-ranked Cal State Monterey Bay holds a three-shot lead after shooting an even par 288. Host St. Edward’s is second on 291 and Chico State, ranked fifth nationally, is third two shots further back. Following them are Western New Mexico (295), Cameron (299) and Hawaii-Hilo (300).
Tied for first place in medalist play on three-under-par are Andres Rodas from St. Edward’s and Brandon Hortt from CSUMB. Chico State’s Will Flitcroft and Thomas Neve from Western New Mexico are tied for third after each shot 70.
Scores here.
