Friday, September 30, 2016

PORTLAND  – Simon Fraser’s junior Chris Crisologo won the Western Washington Invitational on Tuesday for his third career first-place finish, becoming the first GNAC golfer to win a tournament this season.

All six GNAC teams competed at both the Saint Martin’s Invite and the Western Washington Invitational. Concordia had the best finish of any team in the conference at both events, taking fourth place at Saint Martin’s and third place at Western Washington.

Concordia Starts Fast: In its second year competing in the GNAC, the Cavaliers got off to a quick start recording the best team scores of any GNAC team in both events last week. Both Dylan Cramer and reigning GNAC Golfer of the Week Ryan Melnychuk finished under par at the Bellingham Golf and Country Club, leading the team to a third-place finish with an overall score of even-par 864. At Saint Martin’s Tanner Huddleston and Nick Huff both finished seven-over 149, which was tied for 25th in the tournament, while Melnychuk took third place, finishing at par with 142 strokes.

Home Club Advantage: Saint Martin’s tied for sixth place at its own tournament, which was tied for the second best finish of any GNAC team. The Saints finished the 36-hole tournament, which was shortened from 54 holes due to rain, for a score of 28-over 596. Austin Spicer finished in seventh place, leading the Saints with a final score of two-over 144. Spicer finished the second day two-under 70, which equalled the best single-day performance by any GNAC golfer.

Western Washington took sixth place at its home tournament, trailing only Concordia among GNAC squads. The Vikings finished the 54-hole tournament at 13-over 877. Both Brett Johnson and Jeffrey Marcum finished the tournament with scores of 4-under 212 tying for second place. Both Vikings recorded identical scores each round, finishing them 70, 68 & 74.

Christen Him Winner: For the third time in his collegiate career, Crisologo finished in first place at a tounament. Crisologo finished at five-under 211 in his second tournament of the season. The junior recorded two eagles, which was the most in the tournament, and finished 12 holes with birdies. As a team, Simon Fraser took eighth place in Bellingham, edging Saint Martin’s for the third-best finish among conference teams.

Receiving Is Better Than Not Receiving: In the Bushnell Golfweek Division II Coaches Poll, three teams in the conference received votes, led by Simon Fraser (24), which was ranked No. 23 in the preseason poll. Western Washington received 20 points in the coaches poll and Concordia earned 17.

2016-17 Individual Tournament Winners (3 teams or more)

• Chris Crisologo (SFU): Western Washington Invitational, Sept. 26-27 (5-under 211)

Past 2016-17 GNAC Golfers of the Week

Sept. 19-25: Ryan Melnychuk, Concordia