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March 31, 2009

Results

GOODYEAR, Ari. - Western Washington University's Jake Koppenberg (Sr., Everett) tied for sixth in medalist play, helping the Vikings move up one spot to place fifth among 20 teams at the 24th annual Grand Canyon University Men's Golf Thunderbird Invitational which ended Tuesday at the Palm Valley Golf Course.

The Vikings, ranked No.18 in the latest Golf World/Nike Golf/NCAA Division II Coaches' Poll, shot 287 for a 54-hole total of 9-under par 855, tying for fifth with host Grand Canyon (286).

Chico State (277) and Cal State San Bernardino (279) tied for the team title at 23-under 841, Chico State taking top honors by winning the tiebreaker. First-day leader Western New Mexico (283) fell to third at 843, and Sonoma State (284) finished fourth at 855.

"This is the kind of golf course that you need to get a little momentum going and make some birdies and we just couldn't do that today," said Western coach Steve Card. "We were able to improve our position which was good and there was a better energy in terms of our overall competitiveness, which is encouraging."

"But this is a highly competitive region and some of the other schools are playing some great golf right now and we have to start challenging those teams and in order to do that we need to improve."

Koppenberg shot even par 72 to finish in a three-way tie for sixth at 8-under 208. It was his fourth top 10 finish in the last five tournaments.

Western's Thomas Jun (So., Federal Way) tied for 11th at 210 (71). Julian Peters (Jr., Mukilteo/Kamiak) tied for 39th at 219 (71), Brandon Brown (Sr., Kent/Jefferson) tied for 57th at 223 (75) and Jake Webb (Fr., Issaquah/Skyline) tied for 62nd at 224 (73).

Taking medalist honors at 11-under 205 was Kenny Pigman (70) from Cal State San Bernardino. There was a four-way tie for second at 207.

Western next competes at the Cal State Stanislaus Invitational on Apr.13-14.