The Doug Lange Network 

September 20, 2018 

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BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University men’s golf team opens the 2018-19 season this Friday and Saturday at the Saint Martin’s University Invitational at The Home Course in DuPont, Washington.

 

The 54-hole, three-round tournament begins a busy open to the fall season, with the Vikings playing 108 holes of competition golf over a five-day span. Following the SMU Invite, WWU hosts the 47th Annual WWU Invitational on Monday-Tuesday (Sept. 24-25) at the Bellingham Golf & Country Club.

 

“We are excited and anxious to get out and play competitive rounds of golf,” said sixth-year head coach Luke Bennett. “The start of qualifying has been great and the team dynamic is as good as it has been between all the players. The leadership has been what we are looking for with the older players and I think overall, the team is just ready to get out and start competing.”

 

WWU’s starting five for the season-opening tournament will feature four returning players and one freshman:

 

1. Cody Roth (Sr., Bellingham, WA)

2. Ethan Casto (Jr., Snohomish, WA)

3. Michael Butler (Sr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline)

4. Nick Sparling (Sr., Dublin, OH/Dublin Coffman/Ohio State)

5. Jordan Lee (Fr., Tacoma, WA/Bellarmine Prep)

 

Overall, WWU’s 11-player roster features seven returning players and four newcomers (3 freshmen, one sophomore transfer).

 

Western has advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships in every year the program has competed at the NCAA level (since 1998-99), a string of 20 consecutive seasons. In addition, the Vikings have won eight of the 11 GNAC Championships, and featured the GNAC individual medalist in seven of 11 seasons that the league tournament has been played. Last season Ethan Casto earned individual medalist honors at the GNAC Championships.  

 

The complete fall and spring schedule, as well as historical information on the program, can be viewed atWWUVikings.com/MGolf.

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-- @WWUMGolf --