By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
COEUR d'ALENE, Idaho – The Western Washington University men's golf team holds the 36-hole lead at the 2024 GNAC Championships aiming for the program's 11th conference title.
The Vikings got off to a great start firing a single-round tournament record with an 11-under-par 273 in the first round and came home with a 3-over-par 287 in the afternoon on the par 71 Coeur d'Alene Golf Resort layout. The first-round score bettered WWU's own record in the GNAC Championships of 274 originally set in 2010.
WWU carries a two-stroke lead into Tuesday's final round, with Saint Martin's in 2nd place at 6-under-par 562 and Simon Fraser and Montana State Billings tied for 3rd at 5-under-par 563. The top four teams in the five-team standings are separated by just three strokes with an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships West/South Central Super Regional on the line.
Junior Ryan Ho paced the Vikings opening-day performance completing the first 36 holes of the 54-hole tournament at 9-under-par 133 to sit in 3rd place. Ho fired a first-round score of 9-under-par 62 to set the GNAC Championships single-round record and tie the WWU single-round record. Ho carded 11 birdies in the first round and completed his day with an even-par 71 in the afternoon round. Ho's round was also one off the course record of 61 set by PGA tour professional John Cook in 1992.
Sophomore Peter Dionne-Yahr is in 8th place in the 25-player field at 3-under-par 139 (67-72) and junior Seth King is tied for 10th at 1-over-par 143 (72-71).
Grayson Giboney of Northwest Nazarene (68-64) and Michael Crisologo of Simon Fraser (67-65) are tied for individual medalist honors one stroke ahead of Ho.
Tuesday's final round is set to start with tee times off the No. 1 tee at 8 am, with Viking players at the below tee times. Live Results can be tracked online at wwuvikings.com/MG_Live.
POLLA RECORDS ACE IN FIRST ROUND
Junior Matteo Polla recorded a hole-in-one in the first round using a gap wedge on the 156-yard par 3 No. 6 at the Coeur d'Alene Golf Resort.
GNAC CHAMPIONSHIPS LEADERBOARD
Here is a look at WWU's individual results and the team leaderboard from the 2024 GNAC Men's Golf Championships at the Coeur d'Alene Golf Resort:
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2024 GNAC MEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Coeur d'Alene Golf Resort » Coeur d'Alene, ID
Par 71 » 6,447 Yards
|
|
Pos.
|
Team/Player
|
To Par
|
Rd 1
|
Rd 2
|
Rd 3
|
Total
|
|
1st
|
Western Washington
|
-8
|
273
|
287
|
--
|
560
|
|
3rd
|
Ryan Ho
|
-9
|
62
|
71
|
--
|
133
|
|
8th
|
Peter Dionne-Yahr
|
-3
|
67
|
72
|
--
|
139
|
|
t10th
|
Seth King
|
+1
|
72
|
71
|
--
|
143
|
|
t16th
|
Cole Reynolds
|
+4
|
73
|
73
|
--
|
146
|
|
t20th
|
Matteo Polla
|
+6
|
72
|
76
|
--
|
148
|
|
Pos.
|
Team
|
To Par
|
Rd 1
|
Rd 2
|
Rd 3
|
Total
|
|
1.
|
Western Washington
|
-8
|
273
|
287
|
--
|
560
|
|
2.
|
Saint Martin's
|
-6
|
286
|
276
|
--
|
562
|
|
3.
|
Montana State Billings
|
-5
|
280
|
283
|
--
|
563
|
|
|
Simon Fraser
|
-5
|
285
|
278
|
--
|
563
|
|
5.
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
+1
|
284
|
285
|
--
|
569
|
THE GNAC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Vikings have won 10 of the 15 GNAC Men's Golf Championships since the event debuted in 2008, also tying for the top spot in 2023 but falling in a two-hole team playoff. WWU won six consecutive titles from 2008-13, were back-to-back team champions in 2016-17 and added titles in 2019 and 2022. A Viking has also won 10 of 15 individual medalist honors, including four of the last five, with senior Jordan Lee earning the top individual in 2023.
Championships Quick Facts:
Course: Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course
Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Championships Format: 54 Holes (36 on Monday, 18 on Tuesday)
Par: 71 Yardage: 6,447 Yards
Teams (5): WWU, Simon Fraser, Saint Martin's, Montana State Billings, Northwest Nazarene
Field Size: 25
GNAC Tournament History:
54-Hole Total - 199, Aidan Thain, WWU, 67-64-68 (April 18-19, 2022)
Single Round - 62 (-9), Ryan Ho, WWU (April 22, 2024)
54-Hole Total, Team - 837, Simon Fraser, 277-281-279 (April 20-21, 2015); 837, WWU, 276-279-282 (April 18-19, 2016)
Single Round, Team - 273, Western Washington (April 22, 2024)
GNAC Team Champions:
2008 - Western Washington (578)*
2009 - Western Washington (872)
2010 - Western Washington (850)
2011 - Western Washington (884)
2012 - Western Washington (856)
2013 - Western Washington (867)
2014 - Northwest Nazarene (892)
2015 - Simon Fraser (837)
2016 - Western Washington (837)
2017 - Western Washington (871)
2018 - Simon Fraser (852)
2019 - Western Washington (851)
2020 - No Tournament (COVID-19)
2021 - Saint Martin's (875)
2022 - Western Washington (854)
2023 - Western Washington / Simon Fraser (874) – SFU wins in 2-hole playoff to gain official GNAC title
Courses: 2008: Indian Canyon; 2009-2019, 2022-23: Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course; 2021: The Home Course * 36-hole tournament
GNAC Individual Champions:
2008 - Hiro Nezu, Saint Martin's - 138 (65-73)
2009 - Jake Koppenberg, WWU - 213 (69-70-74) – won in playoff
2010 - Xavier Dailly, WWU - 219 (70-72-67)
2011 - Nick Valeria, WWU - 215 (74-70-71)
2012 - Craig Crawford, WWU - 212 (65-76-71)
2013 - Jake Webb, WWU - 213 (70-68-75)
2014 - Kevin Vigna, Simon Fraser - 213 (75-67-71)
2015 - Bret Thompson, Simon Fraser - 205 (68-67-70)
2016 - Brett Johnson, WWU - 203 (64-73-66)
2017 - Chris Crisologo, Simon Fraser - 208 (70-67-71)
2018 - Ethan Casto, WWU - 209 (67-75-67) – won in playoff
2019 - Brody Bonfilio, WWU - 210 (67-71-72)
2020 - No Tournament (COVID-19)
2021 - Tyler Fitchett, Saint Martin's - 214 (69-72-73)
2022 - Aidan Thain, Western Washington - 199 (67-64-68)
2023 - Jordan Lee, Western Washington - 207 (71-69-67)
