Northern Idaho Community College was right on par on Monday. The Cardinals were actually under par. Northern Idaho counted four scores of par or better, including two rounds of 66, to score 8-under par as a team and win the men’s title for the NWAC league match at Highland Golf Course. The Cardinals finished with a two-day total of 3-over-par 563.
The Grays Harbor College men’s team finished eighth with a two-day total of 608. The Chokers did not have a women’s team.
Hoquiam native Kelci Parker fired her career-best score for the Highland course of 77. Parker finished in a three-way tie for second as an individual and helped Spokane Community College win the women’s title for the match. The Sasquatch improved their first-day score by 10 strokes on the second day to finish with a total of 484.
Bellevue’s Sadie Tallman won the individual title on the women’s side with rounds of 77 and 75 to finish the tournament at 12-over par.
Spokane’s Derrick Phelps was the only men’s player to card an under-par round both days and his 68 and 69 added up to 137 and an individual title for the match.
The Chokers counted four scores in the 70s on Monday, led by a 72 from Justin Cox of Aberdeen. Drake Brown carded a 75, while Maguire Cavanaugh fired a 77 and Joe Blaser added a 79. Cox fired a 70 on Sunday and finished the tournament tied for ninth place overall.
“Justin did fabulous and he was right in there,” GHC coach Ann Swanson said. “He was playing very steady. It is a good learning experience for him. This is only his second collegiate tournament.
“I’m really pleased with our progress,” Swanson continued. “They all have a lot of potential, but lack tournament experience. I always tell them, ‘It’s not how we start, it’s how we finish the season.’”
Cox started his round on No. 15 and, after back-to-back birdies on No. 18 and No. 1, the freshman put together a string of eight straight pars to shoot a 1-under 34 on the front side.
“My swing was good,” Cox said. “My driver was good and my irons were good, it was just I couldn’t make any birdie putts. I missed a lot of 10-foot birdie putts that I should have had, but I played the course conservative and made a lot of smart decisions. I gave myself a chance and that is all I can ask for.”
Parker had been a secret weapon of sorts for the Sasquatch during the practice round on Saturday. The freshman, who played Highland countless times during her high school career as a Grizzly, went from telling teammates locations of water hazards to firing for the pin on Monday. It all seemed to come together perfectly for Parker on her return to Grays Harbor. She fired an 83 on Sunday and had just one hiccup, a triple bogey on her final hole, on her way to a 77 to close out the match.
“It feels great to be home,” Parker said. “I know this course inside and out, every little nook and cranny. This is the lowest I’ve ever scored on this course. What better time to score that low than now.”
GHC will host the Grays Harbor College Invitational at the Home Course in Dupont on October 11-12.
