Strong second day helps NIC cruise to men's golf title
Courtesy photo The 2019 NIC men’s golf team, from left: Assistant coach Russ Grove, Tyler Jones, Nick Roberts, Lincoln Hirrlinger, Braxton Stewart, Dawson Strobel, Jesse Henderson, head coach Russell Grove. The Cardinals won their third straight NWAC men’s golf title on Monday, topping Community Colleges of Spokane by 14 strokes.
Courtesy photo NIC sophomore Braxton Stewart, who won medalist honors at the NWAC men’s championship on Monday.
DuPONT, Wash. — When a team wins three straight titles, it can do so in different ways.
Last year’s North Idaho College golf team needed a one-hole playoff to win the Northwest Athletic Conference title by a razor-thin margin.
This year, the Cardinals simply dominated the field with a barrage of birdies and below-par rounds, shooting a 10-under-par team score on Monday to win their third straight NWAC men’s golf title at the two-day conference championship at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash.
NIC shot a two-day total of 569, finishing 7-under-par as a team, to finish 14 shots ahead of second-place Community Colleges of Spokane.
“We had a two-stroke lead after Sunday, and the guys just came out and played really well today,” NIC coach Russell Grove said. “We made 16 birdies on the front nine and ended up with all four (team scores) under par. That’s tough to beat.”
Leading the way was sophomore Braxton Stewart, one of two returning golfers from last season’s championship squad. His 4-under 68 helped him claim medalist honors, and four other Cardinals — Jesse Henderson, Nick Roberts, Tyler Jones and Lincoln Hirrlinger — finished among the top 10 individuals.
“Braxton’s actually been struggling a bit this spring,” Grove said. “He found something these last two days, and made some clutch putts today. For him to win was awesome to watch.”
Roberts’ Monday round of 68 matched Stewart for low round of the day, while sophomore Henderson managed two straight 1-under-par rounds of 71. This despite rainy and windy conditions on Monday, Grove said.
Among Spokane’s top golfers was Coeur d’Alene high graduate Chase Mitchell, who tied for 14th overall with two 75s for a 6-over-par 150.
In women’s play, NIC’s Jessey Simons and Kaylie Hayes each recorded a round of 77 to propel them into the top 10, with Simons finishing fifth and Hayes tied for eighth. The Cardinals were fourth as a team.
“Both Jessey and Kaylie played pretty well this weekend,” Grove said.
MEN
The Home Course, DuPont, Wash., Par 72
TEAM SCORES — 1, North Idaho 291-278-569. 2, Spokane 293-290-583. 3, Bellevue 297-293-590. 4, Grays Harbor 303-289-592. 5, Skagit Valley College 306-308-614. 6, Southwest Oregon 310-305-615. 7, Olympic 323-324-647. 8, Walla Walla 337-330-667.
MEDALIST — Braxton Stewart, NIC, 72-68-140
NORTH IDAHO — 1, Braxton Stewart 72-68-140. T3, Jesse Henderson 71-71-142. T5, Nick Roberts 76-68-144. 8, Tyler Jones 72-73-145. T10, Lincoln Hirrlinger 76-71-145. T18, Dawson Strobel 77-74-151.
WOMEN
TEAM SCORES — 1, Columbia Basin 233-236-469. 2, Southwest Oregon 240-235-475. 3, Spokane 239-245-484. 4, North Idaho 249-239-488. 5, Bellevue 248-246-494. 6, Skagit Valley 249-251-500. 7, Walla Walla 256-267-523. 8, Highline 269-258-527. 9, Grays Harbor 306-340-646.
MEDALIST — Breanna Watts, Columbia Basin, 77-75-152.
NORTH IDAHO — 5, Jessey Simons 77-80-157. T8, Kaylie Hayes 84-77-161. T18, Mackenzie Robins 88-82-170. T26, Caitlyn Fisher 91-86-177. T26, Madeline Neff 88-89-177. 38, Zoyee Thomas 90-100-190.