Friday, September 14, 2018

PORTLAND, Ore. – Half of the GNAC's six men's golf teams were in action in the first week of competition, taking to Billings, Mont. and Creswell, Ore. to open the 2018-19 season.

On Tuesday, Concordia came away with a first place finish at the Yellowjacket Fall Invitational, finishing the two-day tournament seven strokes clear of second place with a score of 856. Junior Jaxson Daskalos led the Cavaliers and earned medalist honors, shooting a 9-under par 207. The GNAC's Newcomer of the Year last season, Daskalos started this campaign two shots ahead of second place and seven strokes clear of third. 

Montana State Billings' Caleb Trost and Garrett Woodin finished the tournament as the highest placers from the host Yellowjackets, coming in fourth with matching three-round totals of 215. 

At the NCU Invitational, Northwest Nazarene put together a solid start to the season as the Nighthawks tied for third. They were led by freshman Isaac Emerson, who placed in a tie for seventh individually with a 10-over 226. 

LAST WEEK'S TOURNAMENTS
Yellowjacket Fall Invitational (Sept. 10-11 at Lake Hills Golf Course, Billings, Mont.): Team – 1, Concordia, 856 (283-290-283). 3, Montana State Billings, 882 (292-288-302). Individuals - 1, Jaxson Daskalos, Concordia, 207 (66-71-70). 2, Riley Killip, Concordia, 209 (69-71-69). T4, Garrett Woodin, Montana State Billings, 215 (71-72-72). T4, Caleb Trost, Montana State Billings, 215 (74-70-71). T9, Payton Stott, Montana State Billings, 220 (72-76-72). T9, Luke Travins, Concordia, 220 (74-72-74). T12, Jake Wiley, Concordia, 223 (74-77-72). T15, Spencer Rhodes, Concordia, 224 (76-76-72). 

NCU Invitational (Sept. 10-11 at Emerald Valley Golf Club, Creswell, Ore.): Team – 1, British Columbia, 899 (296-295-308). T3, Northwest Nazarene, 915 (311-300-304). Individual – 1, Andrew Harrison, British Columbia, 214 (69-68-77). T7, Isaac Emerson, Northwest Nazarene, 226 (79-75-72). 10, Henry Bernard, Northwest Nazarene, 228 (74-78-76). T14, Justin Higgins, Northwest Nazarene, 231 (79-74-78). 

AROUND THE GNAC
CONCORDIA
• Playing in their first tournament of the fall season, the Cavaliers took home the title at the Yellowjacket Fall Invitational with a three-round score of 856.

• After a strong first season in Portland a year ago, Jaxson Daskalos got the 2018-19 season started off on the right foot. The junior led the way for Concordia and posted the tournament's low individual score with a 9-under par 207.

• Two of his teammates finished inside the top-10 as sophomores Riley Killip and Luke Travins carded three-day scores of -7 and +4, respectively. Killip made 37 pars in two days, a number that no one in the field was able to top.

• The Cavaliers have a week off now before returning to the course. They will be back in action Sept. 21-22 at the Saint Martin's Invitational in Dupont, Wash. 

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings opened the 2018-19 season with a third-place finish at the hometown event.

• The Yellowjackets finished with a three-round total of 882 (292-288-302).

• Caleb Trost and Garrett Woodin led the way for the host school, finishing at one-under par and in a tie for fourth. No one on the MSUB roster carded a lower score than Trost's two-under 70 in the invitational's second round.

• Woodin and Trost know each other pretty well. The two were teammates at Billings West High School before staying in town to play their collegiate golf.

• Montana State Billings will join the rest of the conference in Washington next week for the Saint Martin's Invitational. 

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene lifted the lid on its season with a T3 finish at the NCU Invitational.

• Sophomore Isaac Emerson finished tied for seventh to lead the Nighthawks. Emerson showed marked improvement in each round with a 54-hole total of 226 (77-75-72).

• Boise-native Henry Bernard was the other Nighthawk to place inside the top-10. The junior carded a +12 228.

• Up next for NNU is a trip to Dupont, Wash. for the Saint Martin's Invitational.