BOULDER City, Nev.—For the second consecutive season the Idaho Vandals can call themselves Big Sky Golf champions. Idaho turned in the tournaments' lowest round a 17-under 271, becoming the fourth school to win multiple Big Sky Golf championships.
Idaho began the day four strokes behind Sacramento State. The Vandals played a superb front nine, eliminating the Hornet's lead by the turn. Idaho's four scorers played the opening stretch at 11-under, while Sacramento State played the front five-under. The Vandals held on to the wavering lead throughout the backstretch, cementing the victory in the final four holes.
“Our goal today was to get after the course early,” Head coach David Nuhn explained. “We knew the first six holes were going to be extremely important. We were 11-under on the front nine which is a fantastic score. We kept the pressure on and around hole 12 it turned in our favor.”
The Vandals totaled an 842 (-22) over the three-day tournament, setting a Big Sky 54-hole low team score. The Vandals previously set the record in 2015, winning the conference with a score of 856. Sacramento State was the tournament runner up with a 849 (-15). Hartford closed the weekend with an even 864.
“Every single tournament this spring I felt there was progress in a positive manner,” Nuhn said. “This was a first victory of the spring but it came at the right time. To shoot 17-under today was a huge deal.”
Daniel Sutton spent much of Sunday flirting with the individual lead. He recorded eagles on holes two and 13, helping him to a five-under 67. Ryan Porch made a late push to turn in the lowest individual round of the weekend. He played the final five holes five-under, finishing the day with a seven-under 65. Both players tied for second on the leaderboard with a nine-under 207.
“Today was probably one of the best ball-striking rounds I have had all year,” Sutton noted. “I gave myself a lot of chances to make birdies. I made a couple of eagles which was nice. If I had played a bit better maybe I could have beat Ryan. We tied so I am happy.”
“I had a late run with an eagle on 16,” Porch added. “That was huge. Followed it with a birdie on 17. I had a chance to tie for the lead on 18, I just did not quite execute it.”
Senior Rylee Iacolucci totaled five birdies, putting together a round of 71. He finished a combined four-under for the tournament, tying for seventh overall. Sophomore Ian Kim turned in Idaho's fourth score of the day. He played a bogey-free round, recording four birdies on his way to a four-under 68. Kim finished the tournament tied for 25 with a 224. Jacob Scarrow closed tied for 27th with a 225.
Hartford's Evan Russell was the tournament's overall champion. He carded a three-round score of 10-under 206.
Idaho will find out where it plays its NCAA Regional on Thursday, May 5. The selection show will be aired on the Golf Channel at 6:30 a.m. PT.
All-Big Sky: Iacolucci, 1st team; Sutton 1st Team; Kim, 2nd Team; Porch, honorable mention; Scarrow, honorable mention
