A weather delay crushed any momentum the Fort Lewis College men’s golf team found in New Mexico this week.
Playing in the second and final round of the Western New Mexico Fall Intercollegiate at the New Mexico State University Golf Course in Las Cruces, New Mexico, the Skyhawks fell to 22nd out of 24 teams with a final score of 613.
Cal State Monterey Bay won the event with a score of 571.
Matt Huntley followed up a 4-over-par round Monday by shooting 2-over 74 to lead the Skyhawks with a 71st-place finish. Mitchell Donley had a tough day after shooting even par Monday. He finished with an 81 Tuesday to fall to a tie for 88th.
Ryan Tanner improved three strokes Tuesday with a 77 to finish in a tie for 102nd along with teammate Dillon Washburn, who fired rounds of 79 and 78.
Michael Thomas rounded out the Skyhawks’ team with an 83 one day after shooting 76, placing him in a tie for 113th.
“It’s a difficult game, and any little thing can derail any momentum,” FLC head coach Guy Begay said in a news release. “At one point in the first round we were right there with the best in the west region. Then we ran into a 30-minute delay, and that crushed our string of birdies. Our freshman Matt played very well for his first tournament as a collegiate golfer. We’re going to see a lot of good things from him in the future. Piece by piece, we’re getting there.”
Carr Vernon of Cal State Monterey Bay won the event by posting a final score of 8 under. He shot 67 Monday and 69 Tuesday. He edged Cameron’s Daniel Nielsen by one stroke.
FLC will return to action Oct. 3-4 at the University of Wyoming Southern Sand Dunes Tournament in Maricopa, Arizona.
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