Friday, March 1, 2019

PORTLAND, Ore. - Half of the GNAC's six men's golf teams were in action in recent weeks, taking to San Francisco and Vista, Calif. for the Bay Area and CSUSM Fujikura Invitationals.

Western Washington highlighted the threesome, taking home the title over a competitive field at TPC Harding Park by overcoming a nine-stroke deficit to begin the final round. The Vikings, totaling a three-round score of 869, finished six strokes clear of Sonoma State. 

Freshman Jordan Lee led the way for WWU, finishing in third place individually with a 2-under-par finish across three days of play in San Francisco. It's been quite the first season in Bellingham for Lee, who also won the Concordia Invitational back in October.

Concordia was the only team in action for multiple events in the month of February. It placed 13th at the CSUSM Fujikura Invitational, then highlighted the first month of the spring season with a third-place showing at TPC Harding Park.

Sophomores Riley Killip and Luke Travins led their team in the Bay Area, tying for fifth with matching scores of even par. 

LAST WEEK'S TOURNAMENTS
CSUSM Fujikura Invitational (Feb. 4-5 at Shadowridge Golf Club, Vista, Calif.): Team - 1, Oklahoma Christian, 583 (295-288). 14, Concordia, 621 (310-311). Individuals - 1, Devin Gregg, Sonoma State, 140 (71-69). T34, Riley Killip, Concordia, 153 (77-76).

Bay Area Invitational (Feb. 24-26 at TPC Harding Park, San Francisco, Calif.): Team - 1, Western Washington, 869 (295-292-282). 3, Concordia, 876 (280-298-298). 7, Saint Martin's, 895 (294-302-299). Individuals - 1, Devin Gregg, Sonoma State, 210 (72-71-67). 3, Jordan Lee, Western Washington, 214 (75-70-69). T5, Michael Butler, Western Washington, 216 (74-71-71). T5, Riley Killip, Concordia, 216 (71-71-74). T5, Luke Travins, Concordia, 216 (69-73-74). T9, Trevor Frisby, Saint Martin's, 217 (73-72-72). T15, Tyler Fitchett, Saint Martin's, 221 (72-74-75). T15, Nick Sparling, Western Washington, 221 (72-77-72).

AROUND THE GNAC
CONCORDIA
• Playing in their second tournament of the spring season, the Cavaliers finished in third place at the Bay Area Invitational.

• Sophomores Riley Killip and Luke Travins were the team's top placers, using a pair of low rounds on Sunday and Monday to pave the way to a top-five finish individually. The duo ended the week in a tie for second among competing individuals from the GNAC.

• Alcorn State transfer Spencer Rhodes finished inside the top-25 at TPC Harding Park with a score of 6-over-par 222. The team's four-man for the week was the Sunday night leader after firing an opening round 68.

• Junior Jaxson Daskalos is the team leader in scoring average with a total of 72.1 over the course of 17 rounds. Killip is following closely behind at the end of the month of February with a 72.6 clip.

• Concordia will be back on the course for its first March event next week at the SoCal Intercollegiate, running March 4-5 at Carlton Oaks Golf Club in Santee, Calif.

SAINT MARTIN'S
• Playing in their fifth tournament of the 2018-19 campaign, the Saints finished with a seventh-place showing at the Bay Area Invitational.

• Senior Trevor Frisby was the team's top placer in San Francisco, using a pair of 72s in the final two rounds to lead the way to a 1-over-par finish. His three-round total of 217 put him in a tie for ninth individually.

• Sophomore Tyler Fitchett finished inside the top-15 at TPC Harding Park with a score of 5-over-par 221. The Yakima, Washington native turned in a round of 72 on Sunday to get his week started on a high note.

• Frisby is the team leader in scoring average with a total of 73.7 over the course of 14 rounds. Fitchett is following closely behind as the spring season warms up at a 75.0 clip.

• Saint Martin's will return to action next week at the SoCal Intercollegiate, held March 4-5 at Carlton Oaks Golf Club in Santee, Calif.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• The Vikings recorded a three-day total of 869 to top a competitive field at the Bay Area Invitational. The team now has four titles in six events to start the 2018-19 season.

• Freshman Jordan Lee led the way for Western Washington, finishing in third place individually with a total score of 214. Lee saw marked improvement each day in San Francisco, carding a 70 on Monday and a final round 69 to get inside the top three.

• Senior Michael Butler was the other Viking to place inside the top-five. Butler finished in a tie for fifth with an even-par 216. 

• Lee leads WWU with a 72.0 scoring average heading into the month of March.

• In the latest edition of the Golfstat Division II Team Rankings, WWU comes in ranked at No. 4 nationally. In the GCAA Coaches Poll, it is currently ranked sixth. 

• Up next for Western Washington is a trip south to Livermore, Calif., where it will join four other GNAC teams at the NDNU Argonaut Invitational on March 11-12.