BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The 24th-ranked Western Washington University men’s golf team finished in a tie for 6th place in the 46th Annual WWU Invitational played Monday and Tuesday at Bellingham Golf & Country Club.

Coming off a season-opening victory, the Vikings fired a final round of even-par 288 to finish the 54-hole tournament at 7-over-par 871. WWU was tied for 2nd after the first round, but dipped to a tie for 7th place entering Tuesday’s final round. Tuesday’s even-par round moved the Vikings into a 6th-place tie with the University of Victoria.

“I thought we had some good moments today and scored well, but just didn’t have the finish that we needed,” said 5th-year head coach Luke Bennett. “We have some time to work on things before our next tournament and we’ll be ready the next time we get on the course. Overall, it has been a good start to the season and we will look to keep that going.”

Simon Fraser claimed an 11-stroke victory to win the tournament with a team total of 8-under-par 856 and SFU sophomore Scott Kerr claimed individual medalist honors at 10-under-par (206). Defending tournament champion and back-to-back Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year Chris Crisologo claimed runner-up honors, recording three sub-par rounds to finish 8-under-par (208).

WWU freshman Brody Bonfilio (Boise, ID/Bishop Kelly) was the highest placing Viking, finishing at 3-under-par 213 to claim 6th place in the 93-player field. Playing as an individual where his score did not count towards the WWU team score, Bonfilio made his collegiate debut a memorable one with rounds of 72-70-71 in the two-day tournament.

“I am really proud of Brody and how he played in the tournament,” said Bennett. “He has been excellent in qualifying and when he got his first chance he made a statement in tournament play.”

Also placing in the top 25 in the tournament were sophomore Ethan Casto (Snohomish, WA) in a tie for 18th place (+2, 218) and freshman Devin Andrews (Kirkland, WA/Juanita) in a tie for 24th place (+3, 219). Andrews fired WWU’s lowest round of the day with a 3-under-par 69 on Tuesday.

The Vikings return to action Oct. 9-10 with the Concordia Invitational at Portland’s Columbia Edgewater Country Club

WWU Women’s Golf: Vikings Place 13th at Rose City Collegiate

AURORA, Ore. – The Western Washington University women’s golf team finished in 13th place at the Rose City Collegiate played Monday and Tuesday at Langdon Farms Golf Club.

The two-day, 54-hole event was hosted by Portland State University and featured a 14-team field of primarily Division I schools. WWU fired a 27-over-par team score of 315 on Tuesday, improving on both scores registered in the first 36 holes of the tournament.

“Today was slightly better than yesterday, but we need to finish better,” said head coach Bo Stephan. “This team needs to focus and get mentally tougher as there are some tough tournaments ahead of us. The talent is there, but we’ve been falling short of our expectations.”

Senior Jenn Paul (Bellingham, WA) and junior Annie Leete (Oak Harbor, WA/Eastern Washington) led the way for the Vikings, tying for 54th place in the 75-player field. Leete, a junior transfer who played at Easter Washington, recorded three sub-80s rounds to finish at 20-over-par 236.

Junior Hannah Drake (Pocatello, ID/Century) recorded WWU’s lowest round in Tuesday’s final round, tallying a 6-over-par 78 on the par 72 layout designed by golf architects Bob Cupp and John Fought.

Cal Poly’s Mallory Muehlbauer birdied her final hole in the final group to break a tie with tournament host Portland State to win the tournament for the Mustangs by one stroke at 7-over-par 871. Tara Finigan of Portland State won individual medalist honors at 4-under-par 212.

The Vikings return to action next Monday-Tuesday (Oct. 2-3) with the two-day (36 holes) Dixie State Fall Invitational at Sand Hollow Resort. WWU will host its annual home tournament the following week Oct. 9-10 at Bellingham Golf & Country Club.

— @WWUMGolf —