Friday, March 27, 2015
PORTLAND, Ore. - Simon Fraser senior John Mlikotic shot a 68 in the third round to help the Clan win the Cal Baptist Invitational Tuesday at the Eagle Glen Golf Club in Corona, Calif.
Mlikotic earned GNAC Golfer of the Week honors with a second-place finish at the invitational.
Four Clan golfers were able to finish in the top 20 including Mlikotic and reigning Golfer of the Week winner, Kevin Vigna, in the top 10. This was SFU's second victory of the golf year, also winning the Golfweek Fall Invitational last October.
Mlikotic opened play with a 76, which was the highest opening-round score of the other Clan participants. He responded exceedingly well in round two, carding a 70.
The SFU captain shot a final round of 68 to finish the tournament at 2 under. He was one of only five golfers in the 83-player tournament to finish under par.
With a score of 214, Mlikotic sank 13 birdies on the 6,898-yard, par 72 course. He was one stroke behind the eventual winner, Kenny You of Dixie State.
Vigna recorded his third-straight top 10 finish, dating back to the fall season, by tying for seventh place. The sophomore logged two eagles at the invitational to finish with an overall score of 217.
Chris Crisologo and Bret Thompson claimed top 20 finishes for the Clan, tying for 16th and 18th respectively.
Three other GNAC teams were competing in the tournament as well.
Western Washington’s Mark Strickland recorded his fourth top 10 finish of the year, tying with SFU’s Vigna for seventh at 1 over par. Sophomore Chris Hatch also landed a top 20 finish for the Vikings who finished in eighth as a team.
Northwest Nazarene was led by Keynan Fanslow as the Crusaders finished in 10th while Saint Martin’s placed 12th with help from Andrew Raab’s 23rd-place finish.
Orem, Paul Earn co-Golfers of the Week
Western Washington’s Audrey Orem and Jenn Paul tied for 21st at the Cal Stat Monterey Bay Otter Invitational in Seaside, Calif., Tuesday, teaming up to win co-Golfer of the Week honors.
Orem shot an 80 and a 79 in the two-round tournament while Paul shot a 79 and 80 to tie at 157 for the GNAC’s only top 25 finishes. Orem’s and Paul’s rounds of 79 were the lowest of any GNAC golfer as well.
The Vikings placed seventh at the invitational with a two-round score of 647.
Montana State Billings also competed at the tournament, finishing in 11th at the 5,810-yard, par 72 Black Horse Golf Club.
Nova Southeastern was the overall champion at 607 while Sharks Mailen Domec Chantry was the individual winner carding a 148.
The Northwest Nazarene and Montana State Billings men’s and women’s golf teams will both be in action Monday and Tuesday as the Crusaders host the NNU Invitational and the Yellowjackets host the MSUB Spring Invitational.