Oct. 4, 2011
Complete Results
LITCHFIELD PARK, Ari. - Western Washington University placed four players among the top 15 in medalist play and finished third in the team standings at the 18th annual Grand Canyon University Men's Golf Fall Invitational which ended Tuesday at the Wigwam Golf and Country Club Gold Course.
It was the third straight top three finish for the Vikings, who entered the tournament as the defending champion and ranked No.10 in the latest Golf Coaches Association of America/NCAA Division II Preseason Coaches Top 25 Poll. They tied for second at both the Saint Martin's and WWU tourneys.
Western was third in the 20-team Grand Canyon field after each of the three rounds. They finished with a 2-under par 286 on Tuesday, their best round of the tournament, for a 54-hole total of even par 864.
No.5-ranked Chico State, which posted the tourney's low round of 278 and led by nine strokes after 36 holes Monday, shot a final-round 290 to take top honors at 5-under 859. That was one stroke better than Colorado-Colorado Springs, which finished at 4-under 860 (286). No.12-ranked Sonoma State was fourth at 867 (285).
"Overall, I think we had a decent tournament," said WWU head coach Steve Card (19th year). "We shot even par, which I felt was very respectable. I was disappointed in not winning, but we lost to two very good golf teams.
"We continued to improve and I felt this was a much better performance than at the previous two events. So, I'm happy with the progress and I know there is a lot more potential for us to get even better."
The Vikings were led by Dylan Goodwin (Jr., Mukilteo/Kamiak) and Nick Varelia (Sr., Kent/Kentwood), who were among five players tied for seventh at 1-under 215. Varelia had a 2-under 70 and Goodwin shot 77.
Goodwin, who took medalist honors at the tournament last year, was the individual leader after each of the first two rounds (68-70). He entered play Tuesday holding a one stroke advantage.
Western's Jake Webb (Jr., Issaquah/Skyline) tied for 13th at 217, firing a 3-under 69 which tied for the best round of the day, and Sandy Vaughan (Jr., Seattle/O'Dea) tied for 15th at 218 with a 1-under 71.
The Vikings' Mark Strickland (R-Fr., Mukilteo/Kamiak) tied for 75th at 235 (76).
Chico State's Kyle Souza took medalist honors by three strokes at 7-under 209 (70). Placing second at 212 (71) was Spencer Biersdorff from Colorado-Colorado Springs.
Western next competes at the Chico State Invitational on Oct. 17-18 at Sevillano Links in Corning, Calif.
