It took the Fort Lewis College men’s golf team time to absorb the level of competition it faced over the weekend.
The Skyhawks were the only Division II team to compete in the University of Wyoming Southern Dunes Invitational at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Arizona. FLC finished in last place in the eight-team tournament, but playing alongside the likes of Arizona State, Idaho, Nebraska and Wyoming was a winning experience for the Skyhawks.
“Arizona State and Nebraska are two schools representing two of the biggest conferences in the country, and Wyoming and Mountain West Conference golf is no joke across the board,” FLC head coach Guy Begay said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “I think we had a little bit of a wide-eyed approach, but we settled in and got going. It was first-class experience for the guys.”
FLC shot a team score of 75-over-par 939. Northern Colorado was in seventh at 39-over, and Idaho won the tournament at 10-under.
“We didn’t play that well as a team, but there are a lot of positives to take from the event. It put into perspective how the big-time teams prepare,” Begay said. “When we get back into a (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) event, we will be that much tougher because we got to see how the other half operates.”
FLC senior Joshua Woodworth finished in a four-way tie for 30th place in the 49-player field with a final score of 12-over 228 (76-72-80).
Mitch Donley, an FLC sophomore, finished alone in 41st at 20-over (80-77-79). FLC junior Lucas Laudick shot 80-80-77 to finish 21-over in a tie for 42nd.
Dillon Washburn, a FLC junior, improved upon his first two rounds of 80 with a 78 Sunday to finish 44th, and FLC freshman Ryan Tanner finished last at 38-over.
Idaho’s Jared du Toit was under-par every round with 69-68-69 for 10-under. Mathias Schjoelberg of Arizona State was second at 9-under with 71-66-70.
Many courses beef up the difficulty for Division I tournaments with extra-thick rough and speedy greens. Begay said the course showed its teeth, especially with a PGA Web.com Tour Stage 1 qualifying tournament being held at Ak-Chin later this week.
“Southern Dunes is a championship, very high-end-level golf course, and it played its most difficult conditions possible,” Begay said. “I give big thanks to Wyoming coach Joe Jensen for including us, as well as FLC alumn Brady Wilson, who is the director of golf at Southern Dunes. Without Wilson, we are not in this event, and I am so glad we were.”
FLC will return to competitive play Oct. 13-14 at RMAC Event No. 2 at Eisenhower Golf Course on base at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. It will be the final event of the fall season for the men’s team.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
