The final leaderboard shows Fort Lewis College last among 20 teams at the Western New Mexico University Intercollegiate Invitational after two days and three rounds of men’s golf in Goodyear, Ariz.
FLC head coach Bud Andersen doesn’t see it that way, though.
“We played better than that,” he said.
Western N.M. made themselves at home in Arizona with a team title (853).
Alex Tiong of CSU-Pueblo won a tiebreaker over Colin Prater of Colorado Mesa to win medalist honors.
Tiong shot 73-68-67–208 for an 8-under par on the par-72, 7,015-yard Palm Valley Golf Club course.
Prater finished runner-up, and Thomas Neve of Western N.M. finished third at 7 under.
For the third consecutive tournament this spring, Lucas Laudick led the Skyhawks with a 75-72-74–221 for 5-over par and a tie for 38th place.
“Lucas played really well,” Andersen said.
Laudick was followed by Dillon Washburn (6 over, tied for 45th), Morgan Miller (13 over, tied for 72nd) and Bryan Schlicter and Michael Thomas (17 over, tied for 90th).
“We’re so young,” Andersen said. “It’s a lot of minor things here and there that will make a difference in scores.
“I’m not discouraged; I’m encouraged.”
FLC will return to Goodyear for its final tournament of the spring season, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships on April 21-22 at the Golf Club of Estrella.
Win the RMAC Championships, and FLC will continue playing.
But, “we’ve got to win conference,” Andersen said.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
