EL CAJON, Calif. –Posting the lowest score in both rounds of action, No. 13-ranked Concordia ran away with the GSAC/Cal Pac/CCC Qualifier held at the Sycuan Golf and Tennis Club, shooting a 628 to win the 36-hole event by 27 strokes.

The Cavaliers claimed their first-ever regional title and earned the automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship Tournament starting on May 15 in Greeneville, Tenn. The Cavs will be making their eighth straight appearance at the NAIA National Championships. The team placed 13th at nationals last season and return four of the five team members from that squad.

Entering the day with a 16-stroke lead, Concordia (317-311—628) recorded the lowest round of the tournament with a 23-over 311 on Tuesday to extend its overall lead. Point Loma Nazarene (339-316—655), the tournament host ranked No. 22 in the NAIA, moved up two places from fourth to second with a 316 over the final 18 holes.

Despite improving their team score by three strokes, No. 19-ranked College of Idaho (333-330—663) slipped to third place, eight strokes behind the Sea Lions. Warner Pacific (334-336—670), Biola (346-353—699) and Corban (359-375—734) rounded out the team scores.

Concordia’s Sunny Powers (72-76—148) earned medalist honors by shooting a 4-over 76 in the final round to edge teammate Holly Speer (76-73—149) by a single swing.

The tournament co-leader after the first tour of the course, College of Idaho’s Trish Gibbens (72-80—152) fell to fourth place and was sandwiched by PLNU’s Kathleen Crossley (76-74—150) in third and Concordia’s Sara Molyneux (76-80—156) in fifth.

Scotti Jo Helmick (80-78—158) led Warner Pacific with a sixth-place result, moving up a spot with a team-best 6-over 78 while C of I’s Baylee Borchers (86-74—160) came back with the second best round of the day to also crack the top 10 in eighth place overall. Northwest Christian’s Haley Partridge (80-79—159) and Sarah Crofcheck (82-80—162) used consistent back-to-back rounds to give the CCC eight top-10 performers.

Tallying consecutive 87s, Morgan McCommish (87-87—174) led the contingent from Corban with a 17th-place finish.