Wednesday, March 9, 2016
PORTLAND, Ore. – Not even a stormy February could stop the GNAC golf season from beginning, nor could it cool off the Saint Martin’s men’s golf team from its scorching start.
The Saint’s senior Ryan Pickthorn finished first place in a field of 56 at the East/West Bay Area Invite in Livermore, Calif. on Feb. 15 and 16 to lead Saint Martin’s to the team title. Pickthorn took home the individual trophy by three strokes with a score of 4-over par 216. The Saints took first place overall with a score of 910, seven strokes ahead of Division III Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
Sophomore Andrew Raab tied for fifth place for the Saints, shooting 226 over three rounds. His score of 1-under par 71 was the best third round score. Western Washington junior Brett Johnson tied Raab for fifth place. He had a top score of 1-under par 71 in the first round, leading the Vikings to a third place finish.
Junior Chris Hatch tied for 10th for Western Washington with a score of 228, while the Vikings’ junior Jeffrey Marcum and the Saints’ junior Austin Spicer rounded out the top-15 with 14th place finishes.
Pickthorn also took home medalist honors at the Saints Cup dual match against Pacific Lutheran on Feb. 27 and 28 in Tacoma, Wash. He split the award with senior teammate Kevin Cullen, as the pair shot 1-under par 143 over two rounds. Saint Martin’s retained the Saints Cup with the top-six finishers in the individual competition, with Spicer, Raab, freshman Trevor Frisby and sophomore Jared Rasmussen rounding out the leaders.
Concordia opened the season on Feb. 8 and 9 in Vista, Calif. for the CSUSM Cougar Invite placing 10th overall. Senior Ryan Melnychuk led the way for the Cavaliers, tying for 26th place with a three-round score of 229. Sophomore Nick Huff finished just two strokes back for 33rd place.
The Cavaliers also took part in the TMC Spring Invitational on Feb. 29 and Mar. 1 in Santa Clarita, Calif., placing sixth out of 14 teams. Sophomore Philip Kennedy tied for eighth place with a three-round score of even par 216. Junior Jarred Gomez and senior Kolton Kyne each tied for 17th with scores of 6-over par 222.
Montana State Billings, Northwest Nazarene and Simon Fraser are still yet to start their spring seasons. The Crusaders and Clan tee off on Mon., Mar. 14, at the NDNU Invitational in Livermore, Calif. The Yellowjackets don’t compete until Mar. 21 at the CBU Invitational, where they will be joined by both the Crusaders and Clan, along with Saint Martin’s and Western Washington.