Monday, April 22, 2019

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – Brody Bonfilio's last competitive round may have come on Halloween, but the GNAC's reigning Freshman of the Year threw a scare into the field at the 2019 GNAC Men's Golf Championships on Monday. 

The Western Washington sophomore was a late addition to the Vikings lineup for this week's tournament but holds a three-stroke lead heading into the final round, firing rounds of 67 and 71 at the Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course for a 4-under par total of 138. Bonfilio led his team to the top of the team leaderboard as well, putting WWU in position to win its seventh tournament of the year with a nine-stroke advantage after Monday.

Playing at Coeur d'Alene for the second time in two years, Bonfilio used some prior course knowledge and confidence to card nine birdies and an eagle in the first 36 holes of the championship. He was one of two Vikings to finish the day inside the top four as senior Cody Roth (fourth place) carded a 1-over par 143.

Saint Martin's sophomore Tyler Fitchett and Concordia senior Jake Wiley enter Tuesday's play in a tie for second after tallying matching rounds of 69 and 72.

Finishing the day in second place, Concordia fired a team score of 577. Following close behind Wiley were teammates Jaxson Daskalos and Luke Travins, ending the second round in a tie for fifth individually with 2-over par totals of 144. Travins' day was highlighted by an eagle on the par-four 17th hole.

In third-place and just two strokes behind Concordia is Simon Fraser, finishing at 11-over par after 36 holes of competition. The Clan are the event's defending champions after a strong showing at the 2018 event. Freshman Isaac Lee and B.C. product Sy Lovan paced SFU with a pair of 2-over par 144s. 

Led by Fitchett's 1-over par total of 141, Saint Martin's sits in fourth place with a total of 585. The team's second-best round of the day came from freshman Max Turnquist, who fired a first round 71 before opening his second round with an eagle and a birdie in the first four holes. Turnquist sits in a tie for 13th heading into Tuesday.

Rounding out the team leaderboard is Montana State Billings (601) and Northwest Nazarene (606). Yellowjackets sophomore Caleb Trost is tied for fifth individually after rounds of 74 and 70.

The final round of the GNAC Men's Golf Championships tees off Tuesday at 7:30 a.m in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.