WALL WALLA, Wash. – Both the Lewis-Clark State College Men’s and Women’s golf teams enjoyed solid play at times to take respective first-round leads in the Walla Walla University Wine Valley Invitational Monday at Wine Valley Golf Course.
Deana Caruso and Nicole Propheter matched 81s to help the Warrior women take a two-shot lead heading into Tuesday’s final 18 holes, while the Warrior men shot a blistering 8-under-par team score on its second 18 Monday to grab a 15-shot lead.
Caruso, a junior, and Propheter, a sophomore, helped the Warriors to a 330 team score and stand two shots ahead of Corban and five shots ahead of Whitworth. The 81s are just one shot behind three players who tied for the lowest round of the day on Monday at 80.
Caruso had a steady round on the women’s side, which no player finished at even or better on the four par 3 holes. She was one of four players to play the par-5 holes at even or better and she finished with nine pars and nine bogeys during her round.
Propheter tore up the par-5s as she was 3-under-par on those four holes, which included an eagle, a birdie and two pars. She was one of only two players to play the par-5 holes at under par. She had three birdies on the day.
Teammates Alexandra Schmidt and Kyla Currie both posted 84s and are tied for 14th in the individual standings. Mylaina Parker had a 95 for LC State.
“The girls did not have their best stuff today but they were able to keep it together enough for a two-shot lead going into the last day,” LC golf coach Brady Campbell said.
On the men’s side, which featured 36 holes on Monday, the Warriors shot 296 in the opening round and then 280 for a 576 total. Bushnell is in second place at 591.
Senior Carlos Davila matched 1-under-par 71s for a 142 total, which left him one shot behind the overall leader Sean Ramsbacher of Montana Tech.
LC State’s other four players all shot at least three strokes better on the second 18, including Sondre Andresen, who fired an 80 in the opening round, followed by a 69. Jorgen Lie Viken and Kristof Panke both had 70s in the second round, while Devon Caruso matched par at 72. Viken stands fourth overall at 143, while Panke is fifth at 144.
“The men got off to a slow start and couldn’t get anything going,” Campbell said of the first round. “But once we got to the afternoon we hit our stride and shot our best round of the year. Four rounds under par and a drop score of even is the stuff we need to continue our push to be a top team in the nation.”
This is the final non-conference tournament scheduled for the Warriors. LC will take part in the final Cascade Conference tournament on April 11-12 in Salem, Ore., at the Corban Invitational, and then has the conference championship on April 25-26 in Klamath Falls, Ore.
MEN
Team – 1, Lewis-Clark State 296-280-576. 2, Bushnell 295-296-591. 3, tie, Multnomah 302-290-592 and Montana Tech 293-299-592. 5, Walla Walla U. 305-313-618, 6, Corban 319-306-615. 7, Puget Sound 307-324-631. 8, Columbia Basin CC 319-331-65.
Leader – Sean Ramsbacher, Montana Tech, 71-70-141.
LC State – 2, tie, Carlos Davila 71-71-142. 4, Jorgen Lie Viken 73-70-143. 5, Kristof Panke 74-70-144. T11, Sondre Andresen 80-69-149. T13, Devon Caruso 78-72-150.
WOMEN
Team – 1, Lewis-Clark State 330. 2, Corban 332. 3, Whitworth 335. 4, Montana Tech 343. 4, Columbia Basin CC 353. 6, Bushnell 363. 7, Puget Sound 422.
Leader – tie, Kelly Dunn, Corban, Brianna McNelly, Whitworth and Grace Wilbur, Columbia Basin, 80.
LC State – T5, Deana Caruso and Nicole Propheter 81. T14, Alexandra Schmidt and Kyla Currie 84. T28, Mylaina Parker 95.
Stay up to date on all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.