ANTIOCH, CA - Grand Canyon University fired a final round of 290 to reclaim the Hawaiian Airlines Pacific West Conference Men's Golf Championship on Tuesday afternoon, April 21, in Antioch, CA.
The Antelopes, who won the title in 2007 but were overtaken on the final day of the 2008 championship by Hawai‘i Hilo, held off the Vulcans for a six-stroke victory.
Meanwhile, Academy of Art's Matthew Garcia won a three-way, single-hole playoff to claim the first conference championship of any kind in the school's history.
Garcia, Cameron Crawford (Sandy. UT/Jordan HS) of Dixie State and Logan Goulding of Hawai‘i Hilo each finished with three-round totals of 215, forcing a one-hole playoff on the par 5 18th hole to decide the league's individual title.
All three players reached the green in three strokes, but Crawford and Goulding two-putted, while Garcia sunk his first putt for birdie and the PacWest crown.
Garcia's three-round total consisted of a 71 and 74 on the first day, followed by a sparkling 70 on Tuesday afternoon. Crawford had rounds of 72, 73 and 70, while Goulding was extreme with a 75, 69 and 71.
The PacWest All-Conference Team will be announced on Thursday, while the Player, Freshman and Coach of the Year will be voted upon by the head coaches of the conference following nationals.
As a team, Grand Canyon posted a two-over-par 866 (288-288-290), while Hawai‘i Hilo fired an eight over 872 (292- 289-291).
Dixie State placed third with a +26 score of 890 (294-294-302), while Hawai‘i Pacific finished fourth with a 33-over-par 897 (304-297-296). Notre Dame de Namur (902), BYU-Hawaii (906), Academy of Art (919) and Chaminade (1200) wrapped up fifth through eighth, respectively.
The two-day, 54-hole tournament was held at the par-72, 6,864-yard Roddy Ranch Golf Club.
Unlike 2008 when the event was spread over three days, this year the Hawaiian Airlines PacWest Championship format featured two 18-hole rounds on the opening day followed by a single 18-hole schedule on day two.
In a pre-tournament vote designed to predict the order of finish, Grand Canyon was the favorite followed by Dixie State, Notre Dame de Namur and Hawai‘i Hilo.
Last season's Freshman of the Year, NDNU's Ryan Sheffer, finished tied for fifth with Terence Daniels, Mike Krahe and Brandon Hill - all of Grand Canyon. The four players each produced a final three-round score of 217.
Defending champion Zady Ari of Hawai‘i Hilo was fourth with a 216 to post even par. He started out the tournament with a blistering 66.
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