Men's Golf | 09.28.2021

LEWISTON, Idaho – Senior Devon Caruso's 3-foot birdie putt on the final hole left him, his Lewis-Clark State College teammates and coach Brady Campbell all with a day they'll never forget, and in need of some towels.
 
On the final shot of the two-day Warrior Invitational, Caruso drained the putt on the 18th hole to win the overall individual title and help the Warriors tied the No. 15 University of British Columbia for the top spot in the Cascade Collegiate Conference tourney, which wrapped up Tuesday at the Lewiston Golf & Country Club.
 
After all the scores were tallied, pictures were taken and participating teams had left, the entire LC Men's Golf team and Campbell celebrated the co-title by jumping into the country club's pool with their golf attire still on.
 
"It can't get much better with an individual win and a team win for the men," Campbell said. "This was awesome. The guys deserve it. They work hard every day. I push them but they respond really well. Co-winners with an NAIA Top 15 preseason team is huge, especially when we were picked fifth in the (conference) preseason poll. It's really nice to see this."
 
The Warrior women also had reason to celebrate as they posted their best round of the season with a 307 to take third in the two-day 36-hole women's event. Senior Alexandra Schmidt carded the second-best round of the day with a solid 73 to lead the Warrior women.
 
Caruso's title was in jeopardy when he missed a short birdie putt on the 16th hole, but he battled back with birdies on the final two holes.
 
Playing in the final group of the day, Caruso came to the par-5 518-yard 18th hole with a one-shot lead in the individual medalist race, but with his club trailing by one to UBC, the preseason overwhelming favorite to win the conference title. Caruso proceeded to hit his third shot tight. After everyone else proceeded to putt out, Caruso drained his putt to record a 1-under-par 71.
 
Caruso, who recorded 10 birdies in Monday's second round, finished the tournament with a 5-under-par 207, which gave him a two-shot victory over Jason Swan of North Idaho College, which also was competing in the tournament as a non-CCC member. Caruso's teammate, Kristof Panke, tied Multnomah's Jacob Larson for third at 213. Panke fired a 68 on Tuesday, while Larson had a 69.
 
"It was up and down, and kind of crazy," Caruso said of his round. "The front nine was very smooth. I gave myself good looks. I think I only missed two greens and my only two birdies on the front were on par-3s so I think that kind of show how good I was hitting my irons and wedges."
 
"Devon just battled through it today," Campbell said. "It was a grind. He was really solid for the first 12 holes and then stuff happened and it started getting tough, but he was able to push through it. I'm really proud of him to finish birdie-birdie and win the title."
 
Both LC State and UBC finished with 858 scores in the two-day 54-hole event. LC State shot a 285 score on Tuesday while UBC, with all five of its players matching par or better, carded a 281.
 
The Warriors entered the day with a four-shot lead, something new for the team.
 
"They are not used to having the lead, but rather are used to chasing," Campbell said. "It's a whole different type of mental approach you have to have when you are leading. It was back and forth all day and I thought the team really handled it well."
 
Schmidt also handled the day well for the Warrior women. She started play on the back nine and after a birdie on the 15th hole, she parred the final 12 holes for her best round of the season.
 
"It was steady today," Schmidt said. "I hit almost every green and two-putted almost every green so that was good. I made a couple of up-and-downs at the end, but it was just a steady round."
 
While her driver has been finding the fairway, Schmidt said it's been her mental game that has been the key.
 
"My mental game is really good right now," she said. "I'm confident with my swing and I feel really good."
 
"Alex played super steady golf as expected," Campbell said. "She is kind of our rock on the women's team. She is someone who goes out and makes a lot of pars and hits the ball really well. When the short game comes together for her, that's when she really plays well."
 
UBC, which is ranked eighth in the NAIA women's Top 25 preseason poll, had four golfers shoot in the 70s to card a 297 on Tuesday for a 592 total and a 20-stroke victory. Oregon Tech, ranked No. 19 in the preseason poll, held off LC State for second. Oregon Tech had a 312 for a 612 total, while LC State has its best round of the fall with a 307 for a 617 score.
 
LC State also had four players in the 70s as Nicole Propheter had a 77, Kyla Currie a 78, and Deana Caruso a 79.
 
"This was by far the women's best tournament," Campbell said. "Today's round was the best round, even in qualifying. For them to have their two best rounds of the season in this event should really give them some confidence going into the weekend."
 
The Warrior women will be back in action in Saturday and Sunday in the George Fox Invitational.
 
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
 
 
MEN
Team scores – 1, tie, Lewis-Clark State 285-858 and British Columbia 281-858. 3, North Idaho College 295-873. 4, Oregon Tech 293-890. 5, Multnomah 290-892. 6, Bushnell 304-912/ 7, College of Idaho 315-935. 8, Walla Walla U. 308-946. 9, Corban 312-952.
Medalist – Devon Caruso, LC State, 71-207.
LC State – 1, Devon Caruso 71-207. T3, Kristof Panke 68-213. T9, Jorgen Lie Viken 72-216. T19, Carlos Davila 74-222. T21, Jacob Waller 74-224.
Other LC State scores – Elias Theodossopoulos 73-215, Tomas Lopez Quisoboni 79- 240, Caleb Hitt 83-245, Ezra Epperly 86-260.
WOMEN
Team scores – 1, British Columbia 297-592. 2, Oregon Tech 312-612. 3, Lewis-Clark State 307-617. 4, Corban 340-669. 5, North Idaho CC 327-670. 6, Walla Walla 361-711. 7, Bushnell 369-733. 8, College of Idaho DNF.
Medalist – tie, Emily Li, British Columbia, 71-74–145, and Payton Canon 70-75–145.
LC State – 3, Alexandra Schmidt 73-147. 9, Deana Caruso 79-153. T12, Kelsee Fleming 80-158. 15, Kyla Currie 78-162. 16, Nicole Propheter 77-164.
Other LC State scores – Mylaina Parker 94-182. Isabel Hilliard 94-197.