Grand Canyon captures 4th PacWest Championship in last 6 years with 16-stroke victory

PacWest Champions WAIKOLOA, HI – Grand Canyon captured its fourth league title in the last six years by recording a 16-stroke victory over Dixie State on Tuesday, April 24, at the 2012 Pacific West Conference Men’s Golf Championship.

The Antelopes shot a 54-hole team score of 871 to finish ahead of runner-up Dixie State which posted an 887. The three-round par for teams on the course was 854.

The 2011 Champion - Hawai‘i Hilo – placed third with an 895, while California Baptist took fourth with a 901.

California Baptist’s Steve Watson captured the individual title by recording a five-under-par 211, and he was one of seven All-PacWest first Team Selections that included BYU-Hawaii’s Jon Scolari, Dixie State’s Kyle Chappell, and a quartet of Grand Canyon players in Marcus Synegal, Mark Geddes, Ryan Mahoney and Brandon Moore.

Co-Players of the Year The All-PacWest First Team recognizes the Top 7 players in the championship tournament.

Watson also was named the Co-PacWest Player of the Year, an honor he shared with Jamie Hall of Hawai‘i Hilo, and he was named the PacWest Newcomer of the Year for being the top finisher among all new players who are not freshman.

Freshman of the Year honors went to Dixie State’s David Cunningham who tied for 13th and was the top rookie finisher in the field.

For finishing 8-14, the following players were named All-PacWest Second Team: Academy of Art’s Stuart Favretto, Dixie State’s David Cunningham, NDNU’s Troy Davis, Hawai‘i Pacific’s Ian Boat, and Hawai‘i Hilo’s Travis Russell, Corey Kozuma and Chris Shimomura. UHH’s Earl Tamiya was named the PacWest Coach of the Year.

(More in-depth story to follow)