Men's Golf | 09.14.2021

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The LC State Men's Golf team showed the Cascade Conference that it is well-prepared for the 2021-22 season and ready to out-perform their fifth-place CCC preseason ranking. Behind a second-place performance from Devon Caruso, the men finished 10 strokes behind leader No. 15 UBC.
 
Alexandra Schmidt led the Warrior women with a sixth-place finish to help LC finish third.
 
The season-opening event, which is one of three Cascade Collegiate Conference tournaments, saw the Warriors play well but come away just short.
 
Caruso tied for the men's individual title with a 54-hole total of 216, which put him in a three-way playoff. Caruso, however eventually lost to JP Kahlert of the University of British Columbia for medalist honors.
 
"Devon was great all week and losing in the playoffs is tough but it's only going to give him confidence heading into the year," LC State coach Brady Campbell said.
 
British Columbia, ranked No. 15 in the NAIA preseason Top 25 poll, won the tournament with an 868 score while LC was second at 878, 10 shots behind. Both teams carded 290 team scores over the final 18 holes on Tuesday of the 54-hole event.
 
"The guys really battled and tried to win today," Campbell said. "Tying the leaders on the day and finishing second to a top-ranked team is a great start. It's just the beginning for these guys and the message was made clear to the other teams that we are here to play this year."
 
Four Warriors wound up in the top 10 at the tourney.  Freshman Kristof Penke shot the best round of any golfer on Tuesday with a 3-under-par 69 to finish fifth overall at 218. Senior Carlos Davila and sophomore Jacob Waller tied for 10th at 224.
 
"Four guys in the top 10 and all five in the top 16 shows our depth," Campbell said. "I'm happy with this week. It won't be long until we win."
 
On the women's side, the Warriors shaved 12 strokes off of the first round with a 324 on Tuesday to finish at 660. British Columbia, ranked eighth in the NAIA preseason women's poll, won the event at 617, while Oregon Tech, ranked No. 19, was second at 647.
 
Schmidt led the Warriors with a 159 total, which tied her for sixth overall. She carded a team-best 78 on Tuesday. Teammate Kyla Currie, a sophomore, tied for eighth one shot behind at 160.
 
"The women really improved today and played better," Campbell said. "There is still room to improve. It's good to see where we stand in the conference and see we are right in the mix."
 
The Warrior men return to action on Sept. 24-25 at the Saint Martin's Invitational in Dupont, Wash., and then join the women's team in playing host to the Warrior Invitational on Sept. 27-28 at the Lewiston Golf & Country Club. The Warrior Invitational also counts as a CCC tournament. The third and final conference event will be in the spring.
 
MEN
Team scores – 1, British Columbia 292-286-290–868. 2, Lewis-Clark State 296-292-290–878. 3, Multnomah 313-305-296-914. 4, Bushnell 316-313-301-930. 5, Oregon Tech 311-319-303-933. 6, College of Idaho 336-309-316-961. 7, Walla Walla University 326-326-317-969. 8, Corban 330-331-313-974.
Overall winner – JP Kahlert, British Columbia 71-74-71–216 (won three-way playoff).
LC State – 1t. Devon Caruso 72-71-73-216 (lost in three-way playoff for first). 5, Kristof Penke 74-75-69-218. T10, Carlos Davila 77-73-74-224 and Jacob Waller 73-73-78-224. 16, Jorgen Lie Viken 77-80-74-226.
WOMEN
Team – 1, British Columbia 309-308-617. 2, Oregon Tech 332-315-647. 3, Lewis-Clark State 336-324-660. 4, Corban 341-342-683. 5, College of Idaho 374-353-727. 6, Bushnell 373-362-735. 7, Walla Walla 382-367-749.
Overall winner – Emily Li, British Columbia, 73-79-152.
LC State – T6, Alexandra Schmidt 81-78-159. T8, Kyla Currie 80-80-160, 15, Nicole Propheter 89-82-171. T16, Deana Caruso 98-84-173, and Kelsee Fleming 86-87-173.

Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.