May 4, 2005

Complete Results

DAKOTA DUNES, S.D. - Despite giving up over half its second-round lead, the Western Washington University men's golf team was still able to capture the school's first championship by seven strokes at the NCAA Division II West Regional which ended Wednesday at the 7,165-yard Dakota Dunes Country Club.

The Vikings, who led by 17 shots after Tuesday's play, finished with a 54-hole total of 895 (31 over par) as they shot a final-round 11-over-par 299. That earned them an automatic berth to the NCAA II National Championships at Savannah, Georgia, on May 17-20.

"To be the champion of arguably the toughest region in the country is quite an accomplishment," said Western coach Steve Card (12th year).

"I knew going in that it was good we had a 17-shot lead because on a golf course like this, as easy as it was for those teams to shoot 300-plus yesterday and for us to shoot 281, it could go the other way around. Our 299 was not a bad number today, that was the average score for the day, so it wasn't like we played poor."

The Vikings lost nine shots of their lead on the first nine holes, but regrouped, thanks to their veterans.

"The older players on the team, they played some solid golf down the stretch," said Card. "And that was the difference in the tournament because we were leaking oil for awhile. That's the veteran savvy that you have to have."

Defending champion Chico State, which shot a final-day best 1-over 289, placed second at 902. The next four teams in the standings were separated by just five strokes. They were Hawaii Hilo at 915 (300), Cal State Bakersfield at 918 (297), Saint Martin's at 918 (299), and Cal State Stanislaus at 920 (303). Cal State Stanislaus led by one stroke after Monday's opening round.

Completing the eight-team field were Grand Canyon at 947 (316) and UC San Diego at 958 (314).

Western's Tim Feenstra (Jr., Lynden) took medalist honors by one stroke, firing a 1-under 71 Wednesday for a total of 2-under 214. Nick Mason of Hawaii Hilo was second at 1-under 215 (71) and Andy Moren of Cal State Stanislaus was third at even par 216 (73). Moren, the first-round leader, was tied after the second round with Feenstra, who shot a 5-under 67 on Tuesday.

"Tim played great down the stretch," Card said. "He shot 34 on the last nine, finishing birdie, par, par to win the golf tournament by a shot. Being the regional medalist is an incredible accomplishment." Josh Immordino (Sr., Kent/Kentwood) placed fourth for the Vikings at 1-over 217, shooting an even par 72 on the final day.

Western's Stu Bell (So., Vancouver, BC/West Vancouver) tied for 19th at 234 (81) and Chris Anderson (Sr., Oak Harbor/Papillion-LaVista NE) tied for 26th at 237 (75). Luke Bennett (Jr., Bellingham/Sehome), who did not place after being disqualified from Monday's round for signing an incorrect scorecard, shot a final-round 81.

The Vikings, ranked No.8 nationally in the latest Golf Coaches Association of America/Bridgetone NCAA II Poll, shot 315 Monday, and were fifth, three shots off the lead. But Tuesday's 281 was 12 shots better than any other team in the field, vaulting them into a 17-shot lead.

Chico State, Hawaii Hilo, Cal State Bakersfield and Saint Martin's all earned at-large berths to nationals by placing among the top four teams at the Super Regional behind the two regional champions. Minnesota State Mankato took the Northwest Region title at 942, 78-over-par.

The best previous West Regional finish for Western, which was making its seventh straight regional appearance since becoming a full NCAA II member, was second in 1999. The Vikings were fourth in 2002 and 2003, fifth in 2000 and 2004, and ninth in 2001.

It will be Western's fifth trip to nationals. The Vikings tied for sixth in 2000, placed ninth last year, and were 11th in 1999 and 2003.

"We're going in feeling like we really earned our way there," said Card. "I think winning this tournament on a course this challenging was a real shot in the arm for this team. If we know that we can win against the field that we had here, then we know that we have a chance to win when we go back there.

"The other thing we have going for us is that this will be the third straight trip to nationals for three of our guys and the fourth for another. Collectively, we may have more experience than any other team in the field."

All eight teams in the West Regional field were ranked among the top 25 nationally in the latest NCAA II Coaches Poll. Cal State Bakersfield was No.2, Hawaii Hilo No.6, Cal State Stanislaus No.12, Grand Canyon No.15, UC San Diego No.17, Chico State No.20 and Saint Martin's No.21.