Men's Golf | 02.17.2022

LEWISTON, Idaho – After solid fall seasons, both the Lewis-Clark State College Men's and Women's Golf teams look to carry that momentum into spring play, which starts Monday at the Sterling Grove Shootout in Surprise, Ariz.
 
The Warrior men, after not being ranked to start the season, are No. 13 in the latest NAIA poll, while the women were just outside the top 25 at No. 28. In the latest Golfstat NAIA college rankings, the Warrior men are No. 13 and the women are No. 24.
 
The Sterling shootout is hosted by Ottawa University (Ariz.), an NAIA school and member of the Golden State Athletic Conference, in Surprise. The tournament is being played at the Sterling Grove Golf & Country Club, a new par-72 course that features long holes and was designed by the Nicklaus Design Team. Both tournaments feature 36 holes on Monday and 18 on Tuesday.
 
Following this tournament, LC State will play in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate tournament in Nevada on March 15-16.
 
"Those first two spring tournaments are our biggest tournaments of the year," LC coach Brady Campbell said. "There will be three Top 25 teams at the first event and then 4-5 Top 25 teams in Vegas, including 2-3 in the top 10. It's good for us to see that kind of national competition."
 
The spring also features a two-day event at the Wine Valley Golf Club in late March, and then the final Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament of the season in Salem, Ore., on April 11-12. The conference tournament is April 25-26 in Klamath Falls, Ore.
 
THE MEN
The Warrior men won two tournaments in the fall and finished no worse than third in all events. The Warriors stand second in the conference's running team totals from conference events as British Columbia, ranked No. 4 in the NAIA poll, has a 1,726 score, while LC State is at 1,736. The next nearest competitor is 70 shots behind the Warriors.
 
"The men's team was ranked outside of the top 50 coming into the fall but they competed very strong from the start," Campbell said. "They bought in to what I want them to do and they have worked very hard in practice, the weight room, the classroom and with nutrition."
 
Senior Devon Caruso and freshman Kristof Panke are looking to keep rolling this spring. Caruso, who is from nearby Pomeroy, Wash., leads all conference players with a 70.5 strokes per round average in conference play, while Panke, a freshman, is at 71.8. Carlos Davila (74.3), Jorgen Lie Viken (74.5) and Jacob Waller (74.7) all rank in the top 10.
 
"Devon had the best fall by far that he's ever had," Campbell said. "He and Kristof are ranked among the top 30 in the nation. They both played very well."
 
Campbell added depth to the squad with the signing of freshman Sondre Andresen of Norway, who enrolled this semester and will be part of the team making the trip to Arizona.
 
"He strikes the ball very well and is a long hitter," Campbell said. "He will come in and contribute right away."
 
If the Warriors continue their strong play in the spring, they should make their first trip to nationals since the 2016-17 season.
 
THE WOMEN
The Warrior women finished third in its two fall conference tournaments and had a second and a third in non-conference play. LC State stands third in the conference standings at 1,277, trailing British Columbia (1,209) and Oregon Tech (1,259). UBC is ranked No. 4 in the NAIA, while Oregon Tech is No. 21.
 
"The women finished in the top three in every tournament in the fall so they have something to build on for the spring," Campbell said.
 
Alexandra Schmidt, one of two seniors on the squad, led the Warriors with a 76.5 scoring average, which ranks fifth in the conference. Kyla Currie, a junior, is at 80.5 and is followed by Deana Caruso is at 81.5 and Nicole Propheter at 83.3. Sophomore Mylaina Parker also will make the trip to Arizona.
 
While the Warriors are in the hunt for a team berth to the NAIA national tournament in May, Campbell has already signed four players for next season, including three from southern Idaho.
 
While they have had individuals compete at nationals, the Warrior women are also attempting to qualify for nationals as a team for the first time since 2016-17.
 
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.