Men's Golf | 04.22.2022

EAGLE POINT, Ore. – The Lewis-Clark State College Men's and Women's Golf teams will be looking to make strong statements when they tee it up Monday for the start of the two-day Cascade Conference Collegiate Golf Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, at Eagle Point Golf Club.
 
The men are looking to claim the conference title, while the women are hoping for a strong showing and possible at-large berth to the NAIA national tournaments next month.
 
The CCC tournament kicks off at 9 a.m. on Monday with 36 holes for the men and 18 for the women. The men and women then play 18 on Tuesday.
 
As well as being the conference's postseason tournament, the event is also part of four conference tournaments held during the season that decides an overall champion. Team scores are used for each round and a running total is kept to determine the winner.
 
For the LC State men, ranked No. 12 in the latest NAIA poll, the tournament provides an opportunity to win both the regular season and postseason titles. LC State enters play five strokes ahead of No. 6-ranked University of British Columbia after it overtook the Thunderbirds in the last tournament earlier this month. The Warriors have been playing solid golf this year with four tournament titles, including the last two.
 
"Key for the men as of late has been playing as more of a complete team (players) 1-5," LC State coach Brady Campbell said. "Having all five guys contribute to rounds has really helped. Winning at this level comes down to depth and consistency which is something we have had the last couple of events."
 
In their last outing, the Warrior men shot a 291 team score, which was just 3-over-par, despite miserable and cold conditions.
 
Devon Caruso and Kristof Panke stand second and third in the conference's scoring averages and race for the CCC's Player of the Year honors. Caruso is averaging even par at 72 strokes per round in CCC play, while Panke is at 72.4. Jorgen Lie Viken (73.9) and Carlos Davila (74.0), rank seventh and eighth, respectively.
 
With Multnomah 115 shots behind UBC in third place, the race for the regular season title comes down to LC State and UBC. The tournament winner will receive an automatic berth to the national tournament, but with both LC State and UBC ranked in the NAIA's top 15, the second-place team should receive an at-large berth to the May 17-20 event in Silvis, Ill.
 
"Conference will be a good battle but that is why we traveled and tested ourselves throughout the year so we can be prepared for this moment," Campbell said. "We have been back and forth with UBC all year but we know they will be ready to play and we are excited for the challenge. This is just another step on the way to our bigger goals."
 
On the women's side, LC State stands third in the running totals at 1,615, some 27 shots behind Oregon Tech, which is ranked No. 23 in the NAIA. UBC, ranked No. 3, is running away with the title and has a 79-stroke lead over Oregon Tech.
 
The Warriors, who received votes in the poll, will need a big showing to get past Oregon Tech and a possible at-large berth to nationals, which is May 24-27 in Oklahoma City, Okla.
 
Individually, UBC has the top four scores and five of the top six. Alexandra Schmidt's average of 79.0 strokes per round ranks 10th in the conference. Deana Caruso is at 81.0 strokes (13th in the conference), Kyla Currie is at 81.8 (14th) and Kelsee Fleming is at 82.8 (15th).
 
"I'd like to see the women be more steady than we have the last couple of events," Campbell said. "A good goal for them is to try and lead the tournament in pars. If we do that we can compete and have a good event. Finding a rhythm early in the round will help and set the tone for the day."
 
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