The NIC men and women’s golf teams have begun to take a full swing at the fall season. The Rolly Williams Classic Golf Tournament brought in some extra funds to the golf program after a disappointing top 15 finish earlier in September at the Palouse Invitational held in Cheney.
The women’s golf team was invited to the Whitman Invitational in Walla Walla held on Oct. 1 and 2, but due to deadline restrictions the results are unavailable.
A team consisting of Rolly Williams and his family won the fifth annual Rolly Williams Classic Golf Tournament at the Avondale Golf Club in Hayden on Sept. 23.
The Williams team consisted of Rolly, Tony, Derrick and Darren Williams. Rona Williams, the daughter of Rolly, was also at the tournament and had the longest drive of the day.
The event doubled as a fundraiser that benefited the NIC golf program. Participants golfed 18 holes, received a free shirt and were treated to dinner provided by Qdoba Mexican Grill.
“There was good weather, and the participants had fun,” said NIC head golf coach Derrick Thompson.
On Sept. 12 and 13, the NIC men’s golf team placed fourteenth at the Palouse Invitational in Pullman. The Cardinals shot a team score of 927 between both days falling two strokes behind thirteenth place Whitworth University.
“I‘m a little disappointed we let Whitworth pass us up in the last day of the tournament,” Thompson said.
Four of the six freshmen in the entire field played for the NIC squad. One of them, Drew Ferguson out of Belgrade, Mont., finished in a four-way tie for 59th place by shooting a 229 (+16) to lead NIC. Freshman Spencer Skipper from Coeur d’Alene took 65th place with a 231 (+18).
Sophomore Justin Newton, Kalispell, finished in a four-way tie for 67th place shooting a 234 (+21) for the Cardinals, while freshman Brennan Stillinger, Coeur d’Alene shot a 236 (+23) for 73rd place.
Freshman Taylor Reed from Sheridan, Wyo. tied for 76th place.
San Jose State University (SJSU) won the tournament, shooting 842 as a team, followed by Utah Valley University (UVU) with a team score of 859. Washington State University finished six strokes behind UVU with a score of 865.
The Idaho powerhouses, Boise State and the University of Idaho, finished fourth and fifth in the tournament. Boise State shot an 869 as a team, while the University of Idaho tied with Loyola Marymount University of Los Angeles, Calif. with a score of 871.
Jarred Bossio of the University of Idaho had the best score in the tournament with a score of 205 (-8). Four SJSU golfers finished in the top five overall in the tournament, including Jay Myers, who placed second with a 209 (-4), followed closely by Christopher Lang, who shot a 210 (-3). Matt Hovan and Justin Estrada tied for fifth with a 212 (-1).
