Thursday, March 23, 2017

PORTLAND, Ore. – Western Washington led all GNAC teams at the CBU Invitational with a fourth-place finish earlier this week after Saint Martin’s took sixth place at the NDNU Argonaut Invitational last week.

TOP-10 TRIO: Western Washington placed three golfers in the top 10 at the CBU Invitational with Jeffrey Marcum, Chris Hatch and Brett Johnson each finishing within a stroke of each other. It was the most top-10 finishes of any team in the tournament.

BAY AREA BATTLE: Saint Martin’s edged Simon Fraser for sixth place at the NDNU Argonaut Invitational by six strokes. The Saints finished 27-over-par 891 for sixth place while the Clan recorded a score of 33-over-par 897 for seventh place. Simon Fraser’s Chris Crisologo had the top individual score at 1-under-par 215 to finish in a tie for third place. Saint Martin’s was led by Ryan Pickthorn in a tie for eighth place at 3-over-par 219.

STROKE FOR STROKE: Crisologo leads all GNAC golfers in strokes per round at 71.6 in 19 rounds this year. Johnson and Marcum from WWU average 73.1 and 73.3 strokes per round, respectively. Concordia’s Ryan Melnychuk averages 73.4 strokes per round in 20 rounds this year.

GNAC IN NATIONAL RANKINGS: Three GNAC teams are ranked inside the top 50 by Golfstat, led by Western Washington at No. 30. The Vikings are followed by Saint Martin’s at No. 36 and Simon Fraser at No. 49. Crisologo leads all GNAC golfers in the individual rankings at No. 11 in Division II. It is the second-best ranking of any player in the West Region.

WHAT’S NEXT: GNAC teams will be divided between three tournaments with a total of four teams in action, starting on Monday. Northwest Nazarene and Simon Fraser will be at the NNU Invitational. Montana State Billings also hosts its own tournament, the Yellowjacket Spring Invite. Western Washington, meanwhile, will be at the SoCal Intercollegiate in Santee, Calif.

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

• Chris Crisologo (SFU): Western Washington Invitational, Sept. 26-27 (5-under 211)
• Austin Spicer (SMU): Grays Harbor College Invitational, Oct. 10-11 (1-under 143)
• Frisby Trevor (SMU): Grays Harbor College Invitational, Oct. 10-11 (1-under 143)
• Chris Crisologo (SFU): Otter Invitational, Oct. 17-18 (8-under 208)
• Tanner Huddleston (CU): Concordia Invitational, Oct. 17-18 (1-over 214)
• Ryan Melnychuk (CU): Concordia Invitational, Oct. 17-18 (1-over 214)

2016-17 Team Tournament Winner (3 teams or more)

• Saint Martin’s: Grays Harbor College Invitational, Oct. 10-11 (1-under 571)
• Concordia: Concordia Invitational, Oct. 17-18 (10-over 862)

2016-17 GNAC Golfers of the Week

Sept. 19-25: Ryan Melnychuk (Concordia, Sr., Grants Pass, Ore. – Univ. of Idaho): Melnychuk was the top GNAC finisher at the Saint Martin’s Invitational on Friday and Saturday. The senior tied for third with a 36-hole score of even-par 142 and finished just four strokes out of the top spot. Also Nominated: Ian Briske (Northwest Nazarene), Chris Hatch (Western Washington).

Sept. 26-Oct. 2: Chris Crisologo (Simon Fraser, 5-9, Jr., Richmond, B.C. – Vancouver Coll.): Crisologo was the medalist at Western Washington Invitational, carding a three-round score of 5-under-par 211 to finish one stroke ahead of four other competitors. He shot low rounds of 3-under-par 69 in both the first and second rounds. Also Nominated: Ryan Pickthorn (Saint Martin’s), Caleb Stetzner (Montana State Billings), Brett Johnson (Western Washington), Ryan Melnychuk (Concordia), Justin Higgins (Northwest Nazarene).

Oct. 3-9: Connor Miele (Montana State Billings, Sr., Edmonds, Wash. – Saint Martin’s Univ.) Miele finished second at the Rocky Mountain College Invitational, shooting 7-under-par 206 in three rounds. He shot a personal best with back-to-back rounds of 68 in the first two rounds. Also Nominated: Jack Strickland (Northwest Nazarene), Brett Johnson (Western Washington), Ryan Melnychuk (Concordia).

Oct. 10-16: Trevor Frisby (Saint Martin’s, So., Edmonds, Wash. - Meadowdale) Frisby collected his first collegiate win at the Grays Harbor CC Ann Swanson Cup. He finished with a two-round score of 142, carding identical rounds of 71 to beat teammate Andrew Raab by two strokes and tie Austin Spicer, while leading the Saints to the team title.

Oct. 17-23: Tanner Huddleston (Concordia, Jr., Woodland, Wash. – Woodland) Huddleston won the Concordia Invitational last Tuesday, firing a three-round score of 214 and beating teammate Ryan Melnychuk in a one-hole playoff. Huddleston helped Concordia win its first tournament since joining the GNAC in 2015. Two of his three individual rounds came in under par. Also Nominated: Ian Briske (Northwest Nazarene), Ryan Pickthorn (Saint Martin’s)

Oct. 24-30: Austin Spicer (Saint Martin’s, Sr., Gresham, Ore. – Gresham) Spicer led the Saints with a 13th place finish at the Cal State San Marcos Fall Classic, carding a score of 13-over-par 226. He had a low round of 74 in the opening round.

Feb. 13-19: Jeffrey Marcum (Western Washington, Sr., Richland, Wash. – South Mountain CC): Marcum was the GNAC’s leading player at the Visit Stockton Spring Thaw last Monday and Tuesday, tying for sixth place with a score of 5-under-par 139. He finished with a low round of 3-under-par 69 on the second day and was just three strokes behind medalist Greg Gonzales of Cal Baptist. Also Nominated: Sy Lovan (Simon Fraser).

Feb. 20-26: Philip Kennedy (Concordia, Jr., Eagle, Idaho – Eagle): Kennedy led Concordia as he tied for 14th individually at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout in Vallejo, Calif., with a three-round score of 8-over-par 221. He shot a low round of 2-under-par 70 in the final round and led the Cavaliers to a fourth-place team finish. Also Nominated: Sy Lovan (Simon Fraser).

Feb. 27-March 5: Ryan Pickthorn (Saint Martin’s, Sr., Damascus, Ore. – Clackamas): Pickthorn finished fourth individually at the East/West Bay Area Invite, carding a three-round score of 3-over-par 219 as he shot a 1-over-par 73 in all three rounds. He led the Saints to a fourth-place team finish. Also Nominated: Caleb Stetzner (Montana State Billings), Ryan Melnychuk (Concordia).

March 6-12: Henry Bernard (Northwest Nazarene, Fr., Boise, Idaho – Rocky Mountain): Bernard won Northwest Nazarene’s dual match with College of Idaho on Friday, carding a two-under-par 70. He led the Crusaders to the team victory at 2-under-par 286. Also Nominated: Michael Porter (Montana State Billings).

March 13-19: Chris Crisologo (Simon Fraser, Jr., Richmond, B.C. – Vancouver Coll.): Crisologo tied for third individually at the Notre Dame de Namur Invitational with a three-round score of 1-under-par 215, leading the Clan to a seventh-place team finish. He tied for the tournament’s low round with a 4-under-par 68 in the second round. Also Nominated: Jack Strickland (Northwest Nazarene).