COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho – The Western Washington University men’s golf team made a late charge up the leaderboard, led by individual medalist Ethan Casto, but came up short in its comeback attempt at the 2018 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships, resulting in a 2nd-place finish in the 54-hole tournament played at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course.
Casto (So., Snohomish, WA) became the 7th WWU player to win individual medalist honors in the 11-year history of the GNAC Men’s Golf Championships. His final-round 4-under-par 67 forced a one-hole playoff with Simon Fraser’s Craig Titterington. Casto sunk a 3-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole, while Titterington’s lengthy birdie attempt lipped out, giving Casto the outright individual title.
“It was a good day for the Vikings, all the way around,” said head coach Luke Bennett. “Everybody contributed from the beginning to the end, they never gave up and left it all out on the course. Everyone did their part today and turned in a really good performance I am really proud of how Ethan played to win the tournament, especially his back nine and how he played composed in the playoff.”
Casto’s final round featured 8 birdies, including 4 during a 5-hole stretch on the back nine, that moved him into contention after beginning the day in a tie for 2nd place in the 30-player field. He birdied three consecutive holes (13-14-15) to move into the lead at 5-under-par, before recording a pair of bogeys in the final three holes.
But the sophomore regrouped in the one-hole playoff, hitting his approach within 3 feet of the cup on the 368-yard, par 4 13th hole, and then calmly sank his birdie putt to give him the individual title. Casto finished the tournament at 4-under-par 209, recording rounds of 67 (-4), 75 (+1) and 67 (-4).
“What I saw today out of Ethan was him making a lot of really good decisions on the course and he made putts all week,” said assistant coach Craig Welty, who was by Casto’s side during the round. “He was motivated to win and played with a lot of confidence all week. That stretch on the back nine with four birdies in five holes…he was in the zone. That really put him back in the game and it was special to watch.”
As a team, WWU turned in the best score of the final round at 3-under-par 281. Simon Fraser University ended WWU’s two-year run as GNAC champions finishing at even-par for the tournament for the 9-stroke victory over the Vikings. Concordia placed 3rd at 21-over-par 861, 12 shots back of Western.
Paced by Casto’s victory, all five WWU players placed in the top 16 in the 30-player field.
Freshman Brody Bonfilio (Boise, ID/Bishop Kelley) shook off a tough opening round Monday to fire back-to-back rounds in the 60s. The freshman finished at 1-over-par for the tournament to finish in 3rd place, playing the final two rounds at 7-under-par.
Junior Cody Roth (Bellingham, WA) was in 12th place at +7 (73-75-72=220), senior Adam Barker (Gig Harbor, WA/Peninsula/Olympic College) tied for 14th at +9 (73-76-73=222) and junior Michael Butler (Sammamish, WA/Skyline) finished 16th at +10 (74-76-73=223).
WWU led the field with 57 birdies in the 54-hole tournament (SFU was 2nd with 50), and combined to play the four par 5’s at 21-under par. Casto led all players in the tournament with 14 birdies, followed closely by teammates Barker and Bonfilio with 13 each.
The Vikings have put themselves in good position to advance to the NCAA Division II Championships for a 20th consecutive season. The NCAA will announced the Division II field for the West/South Central Super Regional this Friday (April 27) at 3 pm PT. The West/South Central Super Regional will be held May 7-9 at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas.
