Monday, April 9, 2018

PORTLAND, Ore. – Heading into the final round of last week’s Mustang Intercollegiate in sixth place, Western Washington men’s golf shaved seven strokes off its third-round score to end the 20-team tournament in a third-place tie. The impressive final round not only gives the Vikings their best finish of the spring, but hands them this week’s Red Lion/GNAC Team of the Week honor.

Playing in its final tournament before the GNAC Championships, Western Washington carded an 11-under par 274 in the final round to finish in a tie with UC – Colorado Springs (19-under par 845). The Vikings collected a pair of 284-stroke efforts in the opening two rounds and sat four strokes back of Simon Fraser, Dixie State and Western New Mexico of third place heading into the final round.

“I am very proud of how the guys played from start to finish this week,” said head coach Luke Bennett. “To shoot three under-par team scores and to save our 11-under for the final round was so great to see.”

Junior Cody Roth paced the GNAC by finishing in a sixth-place tie after carding a 9-under par 207. Roth combined to shoot 7-under par on the opening day before closing his account with a 70 in the final round. Freshman Brody Bonfilio finished one stroke behind Roth, tying for eighth place. Like Roth, Bonfilio combined to shoot 7-under par in the first two rounds. The duo has combined for seven top-10 and three top-five finishes this season.

Entering the final round three strokes over par, sophomore Ethan Casto carded an unprecedented eight birdies to claim an 8-under par 64. He ended the tournament in a tie for 13th place (5-under par 211).

“A bogey-free round is always a great feat, but to go bogey-free with eight birdies is so special,” said Bennett. “Ethan’s round was phenomenal. Great tournaments by Cody and Brody as well.”

Senior Adam Barker closed out the Western Washington scorers by shooting 3-over par 219. His best round came in the finale as he finished even-par.

Bonfilio is third in the GNAC with a 73.3 stroke average while junior Michael Butler remains seventh with 74.2 strokes per round. Casto and Roth each maintain a 74.4 stroke average while Barker comes in at 74.5. Western Washington has also combined to lead the GNAC with 14 top-10 finishes this year.

Western Washington will join the rest of the conference at the GNAC Championships on April 23-24 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. In last year’s event, the Vikings came away with the team title after edging Simon Fraser by one stroke.