Boulder Creek continued its ongoing hosting of college golf events and Grand Canyon was the big winner as it claimed the program’s first Western Athletic Conference (WAC) title. They clinched the title with a sensational performance and ended at a record 34-under-par 830. New Mexico State’s Garrison Smith led wire-to-wire in the medalist competition, breaking a 21-year tournament 54-hole scoring record with rounds of 64-65-68 to shoot 19-under-par 197.
The field averaged a score of 71.68 over 65 completed rounds in the third round, dropping the tournament average to just above par at 72.07 for the weekend. Five holes at Boulder Creek finished under par over 54 holes, with the 579-yard par-5 13th hole the easiest on the course. No. 13 yielded 14 eagles, 106 birdies and just 10 bogeys for a cumulative -0.64 scoring average for the championship.
New Mexico State fired a 29-under-par team score of 835 (277-276-282) behind the stellar play of Smith, claiming solo runner-up honors. Sam Houston was third with a 23-under, 841 (274-285-282), Seattle U checked in fourth at 22-under, 842 (283-278-281) and Utah Valley was fifth at 19-under, 845 (290-273-282).
Utah Tech’s Davis Heslington earned solo runner-up accolades in the individual draw with rounds of 66-69-69 to shoot 12-under-par 204. Sam Houston’s Bret Gray was third at 11-under 205 (66-68-71), Parker Reddig from Grand Canyon claimed fourth alone at 206 (71-69-66, -10) and Seattle U’s Jack Rahon was fifth with a 54-hole score of 207 (72-67-68, -9).
Southern Utah finished 12th and had three golfers who played high school golf in Southern Nevada on the team. Rashon Williams led the local contingent with a T20 finish but had terrific final two rounds of 69 and 68. Mitchel Abbott and Leo Torres finished T46.