SFU Clan Open 2015 With Top-Three Finish At NDNU Invitational
2014 GNAC Champion Kevin Vigna Leads SFU Through Their First Competition Of 2015, Finishing As The Top GNAC Attendees
by Jade Richardson, SFU Sports Info Co-Ordinator
Livermore, CA – The eighth-ranked Simon Fraser University men’s golf team opened their 2015 schedule with a third-place finish at the Notre Dame de Namur Argonaut Invitational Monday and Tuesday at the Poppy Ridge Course in Livermore, CA.
Led by sophomore Kevin Vigna who opened with two even rounds on the 72-par course, the Clan was the top Great Northwest Athletic Conference team, and trailed only West Region competitors from Cal State-Monterey Bay and Dominican University.
Simon Fraser shot a three-round total of 879 (+15), just two strokes shy of second place, and 19 strokes behind the champions from No. 11 CSU-Monterey Bay.
Vigna finished in a T-5th, opening with two rounds of 72 before closing with a 73, finishing a single stroke above par, with a three-round total of 217.
Freshman Chris Crisologo shot the Clan’s best round of the tournament with a 71 in the third round, propelling him to a T-9th position.
Crisologo shot rounds of 73 and 75 on day one, combining for a tournament total 219 strokes (+3).
Senior Bret Thompson, fresh off his appearance as a finalist for Manitoba Athlete of the Year, shot rounds of 73-77-72 while captain John Milkotic had rounds of 76-75-74 over the two-day contest.
Thompson’s total of 222 (+6) and Mlikotic’s 225 strokes (+9) earned them ties for 14th and 27th positions, finalizing the Clan’s team scorers.
Alan Tolusso also made an appearance for Simon Fraser, shooting opening rounds of 76 and 73 to remain in contention before a slump in the final round forced him to drop from scoring position.
Tolusso finished with a three-round total of 233 strokes (+17), good for 55th position overall among the 93-man field.
The Clan men have two more tournaments prior to the post-season, beginning with the California Baptist Invitational March 23-24 before attending the Western New Mexico Invitational in early April.
In 2014 the Clan qualified for the West Region and NCAA Division II Championships for the first time in program history, earning a 19th place finish in the nation.
Now in 2015 they will look to continue building a successful record in NCAA competition in hopes of qualifying for their second consecutive national tournament.