NIC's Dalton, Burke medalists at golf tourney

RICHLAND, Wash. — Branden Dalton and Ashley Burke of North Idaho College earned medalist honors at the two-day Columbia Basin Invitational, which concluded Sunday at Horn Rapids.

Dalton shot 73-72—145, 1 over par for the tournament. NIC shot 613 and finished second by four strokes to Columbia Basin in the three-team event.

Burke carded an 82-79—161 to lead NIC to the women’s team title. NIC had a 509, beating CBC by 164 strokes. Central Washington had an incomplete team.

The men played six and counted four scores; the women played five and counted three. NIC was missing one player on the men’s side due to a death in the family, so the Cardinals played with five.

NIC has added a match with Central Washington at Avondale on May 1-2, then prepares for nationals next month — the men at Huntsville, Ala., the women at Daytona Beach, Fla. The NIC women are ranked 13th in the NJCAA; the men are unranked.

“We have to get used to playing back-to-back days,” NIC coach Randy Boswell said. “The guys are going to have to play six straight days at the national tournament, and the girls will have to play five. I think we’re improving; we’re peaking at the right time.”

At Horn Rapids

Richland, Wash.

Par 72

6,988 yards

TEAM SCORES — Columbia Basin 609, North Idaho 613, Central Washington 706.

MEDALIST — Branden Dalton, NIC, 73-72—145.

NORTH IDAHO — Dalton 73-72—145, Dillon Williams 78-76—154, Jeremy Jensen 85-78—163, Kris Brett 82-78—160, Jeff Marfice 76-90—166.

Par 72

5,068 yards

TEAM SCORES — North Idaho 509, Columbia Basin 673, Central Washington incomplete team.

MEDALIST — Ashley Burke, NIC, 82-79—161.

NORTH IDAHO — Burke 82-79—161, Emily Thorud 88-91—179, Kayla Lloyd 90-82—172, Kelsey Harden 90-94—184, Amanda Wemple 87-98—185.