WWU freshman Brody Bonfilio. Vikings finish 20th at NCAA II West/South Central Regional in Amarillo, Texas. PHOTO: WWU Athletics
WWU Men's Golf: Vikings Wrap Up Season at NCAA II Championships
May 9, 2018
AMARILLO, Texas – The Western Washington University men’s golf team finished 20th at the NCAA Division II West/South Central Regional that wrapped up Wednesday with the final round on the La Paloma Course at Tascosa Golf Club.
For the second consecutive day the Vikings made an improvement from their previous round at 17-over-par 301, but WWU finished in 20thplace out of 20 teams at 67-over-par 919 to complete the 2018 season. The regional appearance was the 20th consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships for the Vikings, marking every season since WWU joined the NCAA Division II level in 1998-99.
“This was not the performance we had hoped for or expected, but sometimes that’s the way it goes,” said 5th-year head coach Luke Bennett. “The guys never stopped trying, we just didn’t have it this week. It’s a disappointment to finish the season like this.”
Freshman Brody Bonfilio (Boise, ID/Bishop Kelly) completed a solid rookie campaign leading the Vikings by tying for 37th place in the 108-player field at 9-over-par 222. The Great Northwest Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year turned in rounds of 76 (+5), 71 (E) and 75 (+4).
Junior Cody Roth (Bellingham, WA) move into a tie for 76th place at +16 for the 54-hole tournament. Senior Adam Barker (Gig Harbor, WA/Peninsula/Olympic College) finished in a tie for 96th place at +22 (235), sophomore Ethan Casto (Snohomish, WA) was 101st at +24 (237) and senior Willy Scholten (Lynden, WA/Lynden Christian) completed his WWU career in 107th place at +31 (244). Casto, the GNAC Championships individual medalist, recorded Western’s best score of the final round with a 2-over-par 73 on Wednesday.
St. Mary’s (TX) won the team title finishing the three-round tournament at 9-over-par 861. St. Mary’s trailed California Baptist entering the final round, but recorded a team score of 6-over-par 290 in Wednesday’s final round win the team title. Cal Baptist, Holy Names, Colorado-Colorado Springs and Colorado Christian earned the remaining four automatic bids to the NCAA II Championships finals that begin May 21 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Colorado Christian won on the first hole of a playoff vs. Sonoma State to break a tie for the 5th spot.
George Markham of Colorado Mines shot a final round 4-under-par 67 to move into a tie for 1st place, and earned individual medalist honors by winning the playoff on the second dhole. Emilio Gonzales of St. Mary’s tied for the lead after 54 holes, but finished 2nd after falling in the playoff.
