Thursday, October 20, 2016

PORTLAND  – Simon Fraser and Concordia have battled with each other three times in the last two weeks to wrap up their respective fall schedules and little stood between the two squads.

On Oct. 7, the Clan and the Cavaliers tied for first place in the Saint Martin’s Invite, which only lasted one round due to weather concerns. When the two teams met again in Bellingham just a couple days later, Simon Fraser edged Concordia by an 18-stroke margin as the Clan claimed its second consecutive first-place finish. On Oct. 18, the Cavaliers enacted some revenge on their home course, defeating Simon Fraser by a 7-stroke margin, while taking second place overall behind Division-I opponent Portland State.

At the Concordia Invitational, the Cavaliers’ Cammie Decker had the best score of any Division-II athlete and took fourth overall, finishing her home course with a score of 6-over par 150. Simon Fraser’s Kylie Jack notched the second best score by a Division-II athlete, finishing in a tie for fifth place overall with a score of 9-over par 153.

3OH!3: Simon Fraser finished the first round of the Western Washington Invitational with a score of 303. It was just the 15th time that a GNAC team had scored 303 or better in a fall competition. The Clan then shot 306 in the second round which was the 22nd time that score had been achieved.

Into the record books: Montana State Billings’ Sammy Walter recorded the best ever individual score by a GNAC athlete in the Western Washington Invite, finishing the course at par 146, beating the record set in 2010 when two Vikings each scored 1-over par 147.

Hawaii Bound: Western Washington will wrap up what has been an impressive fall season in Hawaii at the Dennis Rose Intercollegiate. The Vikings took fourth place at their home event, which was second place among GNAC schools. They also took third place in the Saint Martin’s Invitational, finishing the first and only round in 327 strokes, four behind first place.

2016-17 Individual First-Place Finishes

Saint Martin’s Invite: Stan McKenzi, Concordia (71)

Western Washington Invitational: Sammy Walter, Montana State Billings (146)

2016-17 Team First-Place Finishes

Saint Martin’s Invite: Concordia, Simon Fraser (323)

Westerm Washington Invitational: Simon Fraser (630)

2016-17 GNAC Golfers of the Week

Sept. 19-25: Audrey Orem (Western Washington, Sr., Bellingham, Wash. – Bellingham): Orem led Western Washington at the season-opening Western New Mexico Fall Intercollegiate, tying for 19th place at 7-over-par 151. She finished with a low round of even-par 72 on the second day of competition.

Also Nominated: Bailee Dexter (Montana State Billings).

Sept. 26-Oct. 2: None

Oct. 3-9: Bailee Dexter (Montana State Billings, Jr., Townsend, Mont. – Butte) Dexter finished second at the Rocky Mountain College Invitational with a two-round score of 150. She missed first place by three strokes. Dexter went on to tie for 12th place in the rain-shortened Saint Martin’s Invitational.

Also Nominated: Erin Farner (Simon Fraser), Samantha Miller (Northwest Nazarene), Chloe Read (Saint Martin’s), McKenzi Stan (Concordia).

Oct. 10-16: Sammy Walter (Montana State Billings, Jr., Billings, Mont. – Billings Senior) Walter tied for first at the Western Washington Invitational and tied the Montana State Billings record for a two-round score with a 146. Her first round score of 72 was a personal best. Walter tied with Kat Kennedy of British Columbia, with Kennedy earning medalist honors based on lowest single round score.

Also Nominated: Samantha Miller (Northwest Nazarene), Stephanie Sewell (Western Washington), Celia Beyke (Saint Martin’s), Cammie Decker (Concordia).