Men's golf falls in national semis

Posting the highest team and individual finishes in its 15 years as a NCAA member, the Western Washington University men's golf team had its season end with a 4-1-0 loss to Lynn FL in the semifinals of match play Thursday afternoon, May 23, at the Division II National Championships being held at the Hershey Country Club East Course.

That morning, the No.8 seeded Vikings upset No.1 Florida Southern in the quarterfinals, each team winning two of the five individual matches and tying in the other. WWU won via the first tiebreaker, which was aggregate score, 375 to 380.

"It was exciting to knock off the No.1 seed and get into the national semifinals," said WWU head coach Steve Card, who is leaving his coaching position after 20 seasons to concentrate on his new duties as interim director of athletics for the 2013-14 school year. "It's been a great week, an historic week, for Western men's golf."

Keying the Vikings' win over Florida Southern was Jake Webb (Sr., Issaquah/Skyline), who defeated Tim Crouch by eight shots. On Wednesday, Crouch had beaten Webb and South Carolina Aiken's Matt Atkins in a two-hole playoff to claim national medalist honors.

Webb, who shot a career and tournament-best 6-under par 65 on Wednesday, tied for second place in medalist play, the best-ever NCAA II national finish by a Viking. He moved up 14 places in the final round to force the playoff.

"Jake (Webb) finished his career in style," Card said. "He not only had an outstanding tournament, but an outstanding season. He led by example."

Evan Needham (Sr., Lynden/Meridian) had the Vikings' best play overall Thursday, notching their only point against No.4 seed Lynn and earning a draw against Florida Southern.

Webb and Kyle Schrader (So., Olympia/Tumwater) each split a pair of matches for WWU, and Dylan Goodwin (Sr., Mukilteo/Kamiak) and Mark Strickland (So., Mukilteo/Kamiak) both dropped a pair.

Lynn advances to the national final Friday against No.2 seed Barry FL, which defeated No.3 Nova Southeastern FL, 2-2-1 (won by two strokes in aggregate score).

WWU's tie for third place bettered its previous best NCAA II finish of sixth in 2000. The Vikings were the only non-Florida in the final four.

Florida Southern won the medal portion of the tournament to determine the top eight. On Wednesday, the Moccasins shot a final-round 280, the best of the tournament, to take top honors with a 54-hole total of 867.

WWU was able to move up five places to tie for seventh at 898 (294). The Vikings were tied for fourth after Monday's opening round and dropped into a tie for 12th in the 20-team field following play Tuesday.

Nova Southeastern entered the tournament ranked No.1 in the final Golf Coaches Athletic Association Top 25 Poll, with Barry No.2 and WWU No.6.

In medalist play for WWU, besides Webb tying for second, Needham tied for 59th (80=230), Goodwin tied for 64th (75=231), Schrader placed 75th (75=232) and Strickland tied for 87th (79=236).

The NCAA II national appearance was the second straight for WWU, which placed ninth last year, and eighth overall. Goodwin and Webb were the only returnees from last year's national squad.

The Vikings lose three seniors from a squad that placed second at the South Central/West Regional and won a sixth straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship.

Schrader took medalist honors at the South Central/West Regional. Named first-team GNAC all-stars were Webb, who was the GNAC medalist, Goodwin, Strickland and Needham.

Webb was named GNAC Player of the Year, and Card received GNAC Coach of the Year honors for the sixth consecutive year. Named a GNAC Academic all-star was Needham.

WWU 2, Florida Southern 2 (1 draw): Jake Webb (WWU) d. Tim Crouch (FSU), 73-79; Case Gard (FSU) d. Kyle Schrader (WWU), 76-79; Dylan Goodwin (WWU) d. Austin Schultz (FSU), 73-76;>Evan Needham (WWU) drew with Shane Convery (FSU), 74-74; Peter Creighton (FSU) d. Mark Strickland (WWU), 75-76. (Note: WWU advances on fewest strokes, 375-380).

Lynn 4, WWU 1 (0 draw): Flip Timmerman (Lynn) d. Jake Webb (WWU), 76-79; Ernesto Vitienes (Lynn) d. Kyle Schrader (WWU), 75-77; Daniel Young (Lynn) d. Dylan Goodwin (WWU), 68-80;>Evan Needham (WWU) d. Roberto Francioni (Lynn), 77-80; Jose Andres Mirando (Lynn) d. Mark Strickland (WWU) 77-78.