Cardinal women capture NWAC title; Swapp wins men's crown

WALLA WALLA, Wash. — The North Idaho College women won the team title, and NIC freshman Braydon Swapp won the men’s crown as the Northwest Athletic Conference golf championships concluded Monday at Walla Walla Country Club.

Nicole Miller finished second in a playoff, and Amalia Negrette took fourth for the NIC women, who shot 234 on the second day and finished at 475. The Cardinals won by two strokes over Bellevue, which led NIC by seven strokes after Sunday’s first round at Veterans Memorial Golf Course.

“Each tournament we improved,” NIC coach Russell Grove said. “Getting that tournament win three weeks ago (at Centralia) was a big confidence booster going into this.”

Miller, who won three tourneys in a row during the season, bogeyed the first hole of the playoff and lost to Kendra Meeker of Bellevue. Negrette shot a career-low round of 80 on Sunday, and followed it up with a 78 on Monday.

“It was just a matter of time before she had a breakout round,” Grove said.

This is the second year NIC’s golf programs have been in the NWAC. In the transition from NJCAA, the Cardinal women were eligible to compete for the conference title last year, while the men were not.

Swapp, from Farr West, Utah, followed up a 6-under 66 on Sunday (which included five straight birdies on the back nine) with a 73 on Monday for a one-shot victory over Lars Malinen of Walla Walla.

“He’s been a good player,” Grove said. “He kinda struggled with the transition into college, not shooting the scores he wanted to for a while ... I’m not sure if it was him getting used to things, but he progressed when the spring season came.”

NIC’s men finished fourth, four stroked back of Spokane, which defeated Walla Walla in a playoff. Former Lakeland High standout Preston Roth tied for 29th for Spokane with a 75-78—153.

MEN

TEAM SCORES — 1, Spokane 297-289—586 (won playoff). 2, Walla Walla 294-292—586. 3, Olympic 298-291—589. 4, North Idaho 292-298—590. 5, Southwestern Oregon 304-288—592. 6, Bellevue 291-304—595. 7, Skagit Valley 306-293—599. 8, Grays Harbor 306-303—609. 9, Columbia Basin 314-311—625. 10, Green River 327-314—641.

INDIVIDUALS — 1, Braydon Swapp, NIC, 66-73—139. 2, Lars Malinen, Walla Walla, 69-71—140. 3, Jordan Bass, Spokane, 72-69—141. 4 (tie), Tyler Franke, Southwestern Oregon, 73-70—143; Davis Gullikson, Olympic, 74-69—143. Also: 29 (tie), Preston Roth, Spokane, 75-78—153.

NORTH IDAHO — 1, Braydon Swapp 66-73—139; 20, Jesse Lambert, 77-73—150; T21, Jackson Shaver, 74-77—151; T27, Luke Logan, 77-75—152; T35, Tyler Azevedo, 78-78—156.

WOMEN

TEAM SCORES — 1, North Idaho 241-234—475. 2, Bellevue, 234-243—477. 3, Spokane, 250-255—505. 4, Southwestern Oregon, 256-266—522. 5, Skagit Valley, 259-267—526. 6, Columbia Basin, 268-261—529. 7, Olympic, 271-276—547. 8, Green River, 283-278—561. 9, Walla Walla, 282-286—568. 10, Highline, 292-301—593. 11, Grays Harbor, 300-307—607. 12, Centralia, 361-309—670.

INDIVIDUALS — 1, Kendra Meeker, Bellevue, 75-77—152. 2, Nicole Miller, NIC, 77-75—152. 3, Hailey Warren, Spokane, 78-77—155. 4, Amalia Negrette, NIC, 80-78—158. 5, Sadie Tallman, Bellevue, 76-83—159. Also: 19, Megan Cysewski, Spokane, 85-96—181. T20, Haley Rotchford, Spokane, 90-92—182.

NORTH IDAHO — 2, Nicole Miller, 77-75—152; 4, Amalia Negrette, 80-78—158; T7, Erica Frazier, 84-81—165; T15, Sierra Tingey, 87-92—179; T30, Mackenzie Phillips, 96-94—190.