DUPONT, Wash. – The Western Washington University men's golf team opened the 2022-23 season with a 2nd-place finish at the Saint Martin's Bishop Invitational held Friday-Saturday at The Home Course.

 

WWU went back-and-forth with GNAC foe Simon Fraser University throughout Saturday's final round, but finished two strokes back with a two-day team total of 5-under-par 571. Western carded a 3-under-par 285 in the final round while the Red Leafs finished with a 6-under-par 282.

 

Sophomore Ryan Ho led the Vikings tying for 2nd place in the 77-player field, recording a pair of rounds under par to finish 5-under-par 139 for the 36-hole tournament (70-69). Senior Jordan Lee tied for 5th place at 3-under-par 141 (71-70).

 

"The guys played solid from start to finish and it just came down to the last hole. I am proud of the way they opened the season with back-to-back team rounds under par…that sets a good tone for the season," said WWU Director of Golf Luke Bennett. "Ryan and Jordan both had solid tournaments."

 

Sophomore Seth King moved up the leaderboard to finish in a tie for 14th place at 1-over-par 145 and junior Drew Halili tied for 18th at 2-over-par 146. Senior co-captain Cody Oakes rounded out the Vikings contingent tying for 24th place at 4-over-par 148.

 

Aidan Goodfellow of Simon Fraser held off Ho to win individual medalist honors by a one-stroke margin at 6-under-par 138 (68-70). Dawson Strobel of Montana State Billings tied for 2nd place at 5-under-par 139.

 

The Vikings have a quick turnaround hosting the WWU Invitational starting Monday (36 holes) and Tuesday (18 holes) at Bellingham Golf & Country Club.

 

Here is a look at WWU's individual results and the team leaderboard from the season-opening Saint Martin's/Bishop Men's Invitational at The Home Course:

 

 

Following the Saint Martin's Invitational, the Vikings will have a quick turnaround hosting the 2022 WWU Invitational Monday-Tuesday at Bellingham Golf & Country Club. The 54-hole tournament will feature an 8:30 am shotgun start on Monday and a 9 am shotgun start to the final round on Tuesday.

 

Here is a look at the 2022-23 fall portion of the schedule for the WWU Men's Golf program, in addition to the 2023 postseason schedule. The spring tournament schedule will be finalized later this fall. All tournament recaps, season statistics and program history can be found on WWUVikings.com/MGolf.

 

 

Fans can follow the WWU Men's Golf program online at WWUVikings.com/MGolf, and via social media on Twitter (@WWUGolf), Instagram (@wwugolf) and Facebook (@WWUMGolf).

 

The WWU men's golf team has an incredible streak of advancing to the NCAA Championships in each of the 23 seasons the program has competed at the NCAA Division II level dating back to the 1998-99 season, which includes this season after earning the automatic bid from winning the GNAC Championships. WWU placed 3rd at the 2013 national championship for the highest finish in program history. The program has produced 16 NCAA All-Americans and has won 10 of 14 Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships since the tournament debuted in 2008, including the 2022 title. The Vikings have also featured the GNAC Championships individual medalist in nine of 14 tournaments with Aidan Thain joining the long list of conference champions in 2022 and nine GNAC Player of the Year awards.