April 24, 2012
Complete Results
COEUR d'ALENE, Id. - Placing four players among the top five in medalist play, Western Washington University cruised to a 26-stroke victory at the fifth annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference Men's Golf Championships which ended Tuesday at the Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course.
The Vikings, who have won all five GNAC titles, shot a 1-under par 283 for a 54-hole total of 4-over 856. Saint Martin's placed second at 882 (292) and Northwest Nazarene was third at 887 (297) in the five-team field.
"It's great to win the conference title, which is always one of our goals," said WWU coach Steve Card (19th year). "I was really happy to see us shoot 1-under on a breezy day. All in all it was a very good day for our team."
WWU's Craig Crawford (So., Stanwood/Highland Christian) shot even par 71 to take medalist honors at 1-under 212. He won by one stroke over teammate Dylan Goodwin (Jr., Mukilteo/Kamiak), who fired a 1-under 70 for an even par 213 total.
Crawford shot a tourney record-tying 6-under 65 in Monday's opening round and was tied for first-day medalist honors with the Vikings' Nick Varelia (Sr., Kent/Kentwood).
"I was very happy for Craig (Crawford), to see him get his first collegiate win at this tournament," Card said. "He really earned it with that 65 yesterday."
Varelia, who took medalist honors in 2011, tied for third at 217 (76) with Northwest Nazarene's Zach Grunig (73).
Placing fifth for WWU at 218 (70) was Sandy Vaughan (Jr., Seattle/O'Dea) and Jake Webb (Jr., Issaquah/Skyline) was 16th at 226 (72).
WWU, ranked No.7 in the latest Golf Coaches Association of America/NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, next competes in the West/Central Super Regional on May 7-9 at the Wigwam Golf & Country Club at Litchfield Park, Ari.
