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Southwestern golfers capture home tournament
By Staff Reports
Sunday, May 18, 2008 | No comments posted.
The Southwestern Oregon Community College men’s golf team captured its second straight tournament victory with a win at the Southwestern Invitational last weekend.
The women took second in the tournament.
Southwestern’s men finished the two-day tournament with a score of 607, beating more than 100 athletes from 14 different schools in attendance. Their previous win came at the Columbia Basin College Golf Tournament in Kennewick, Wash., on May 3-4. Freshman Justin Kadin and sophomore Jon Gaffney finished that tournament in a tie for third place overall.
“Justin has consistently been in the top five of almost every tournament this year,” said fourth-year coach Marie Simonds.
At the Southwestern Invitational, it was freshman Sam Ayotte who stepped up and had a particularly solid tournament for Southwestern.
After a mediocre first day, when he shot a 77, Ayotte battled back in the second round to claim a first-place finish overall. He shot a 70 in the second to finish with a two-round score of 147. Ayotte was one of three Lakers to finish in the top 10 for the tournament — Kadin finished third and sophomore Johnny Wilson finished in a three-way tie for seventh with a score of 155. Gaffney just missed the top 10, finishing in 11th place at 157.
Several Lakers finished the tournament in a tie with other participants, including Boise State University transfers Blaine Corkill tied for 13th at 159 and Jerry Morrell tied for 17th at 162. Freshman Russel Moates tied for 33rd at 169 and freshman Joe Rafson tied for 37th at 171. Sophomore Adam Burlison also competed for Southwestern finishing 42nd at 172.
On the first day of competition the men played on the Pacific Dunes course while the women played the Bandon Dunes. The next day the men moved to the Bandon Trails course and the women switched to the Pacific Dunes.
The tournament was the Lakers’ final tuneup before the NWAACC Championships in Spokane, Wash., this weekend.
“I’m always expecting us to win,” Simonds said of the NWAACCs. “Especially this year, because we have a very strong team.”
The women’s golf team also had an impressive weekend on the course.
Sophomore Jessica Marcum led the way for Southwestern with her third-place finish, shooting an 86 in both rounds to finish at 172.
“Jessica’s really been on a roll,” said Simonds.
Marcum picked up her first collegiate victory the week before at the Columbia Basin Tournament.
Of the four team members who contributed to the second-place finish, three were freshman — Kris Valencia, Melissa Balmires and Holly Ewing. Valencia joined Marcum in the top 10, tying for ninth place with a score of 198. Balmires followed in 17th at 207, and Ewing rounded out the women’s roster in 21st place at 234.
Community College of Spokane took the women’s title by a strong margin with a final team score of 549. Southwestern was second with a score of 572.
Simonds, who played collegiate golf at Boise State University, wants to provide the athletes at Southwestern with the same opportunity that she had in college.
“I try and do the same for these kids,” she said. “And our success has made the year all the better.”
The women took second in the tournament.
Southwestern’s men finished the two-day tournament with a score of 607, beating more than 100 athletes from 14 different schools in attendance. Their previous win came at the Columbia Basin College Golf Tournament in Kennewick, Wash., on May 3-4. Freshman Justin Kadin and sophomore Jon Gaffney finished that tournament in a tie for third place overall.
“Justin has consistently been in the top five of almost every tournament this year,” said fourth-year coach Marie Simonds.
At the Southwestern Invitational, it was freshman Sam Ayotte who stepped up and had a particularly solid tournament for Southwestern.
After a mediocre first day, when he shot a 77, Ayotte battled back in the second round to claim a first-place finish overall. He shot a 70 in the second to finish with a two-round score of 147. Ayotte was one of three Lakers to finish in the top 10 for the tournament — Kadin finished third and sophomore Johnny Wilson finished in a three-way tie for seventh with a score of 155. Gaffney just missed the top 10, finishing in 11th place at 157.
Several Lakers finished the tournament in a tie with other participants, including Boise State University transfers Blaine Corkill tied for 13th at 159 and Jerry Morrell tied for 17th at 162. Freshman Russel Moates tied for 33rd at 169 and freshman Joe Rafson tied for 37th at 171. Sophomore Adam Burlison also competed for Southwestern finishing 42nd at 172.
On the first day of competition the men played on the Pacific Dunes course while the women played the Bandon Dunes. The next day the men moved to the Bandon Trails course and the women switched to the Pacific Dunes.
The tournament was the Lakers’ final tuneup before the NWAACC Championships in Spokane, Wash., this weekend.
“I’m always expecting us to win,” Simonds said of the NWAACCs. “Especially this year, because we have a very strong team.”
The women’s golf team also had an impressive weekend on the course.
Sophomore Jessica Marcum led the way for Southwestern with her third-place finish, shooting an 86 in both rounds to finish at 172.
“Jessica’s really been on a roll,” said Simonds.
Marcum picked up her first collegiate victory the week before at the Columbia Basin Tournament.
Of the four team members who contributed to the second-place finish, three were freshman — Kris Valencia, Melissa Balmires and Holly Ewing. Valencia joined Marcum in the top 10, tying for ninth place with a score of 198. Balmires followed in 17th at 207, and Ewing rounded out the women’s roster in 21st place at 234.
Community College of Spokane took the women’s title by a strong margin with a final team score of 549. Southwestern was second with a score of 572.
Simonds, who played collegiate golf at Boise State University, wants to provide the athletes at Southwestern with the same opportunity that she had in college.
“I try and do the same for these kids,” she said. “And our success has made the year all the better.”
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