Final Round Scores (PDF)
BOULDER CITY, Nev. (April 30, 2017) – For 365 days, the Sacramento State Hornets and top golfer Aaron Beverly had to deal with the disappointment of falling short in the 2016 Big Sky Men’s Golf Championships.
Adversity makes a man, and when the opportunity to redeem themselves came in 2017 at Boulder Creek Golf Club, the Hornets took advantage of the moment. Sacramento State won its third Big Sky men’s golf title and first since 1997, erasing the hurt feelings of a year ago. The Hornets shot a final-round 285, earning a 15-shot win over Northern Colorado for the conference title.
Perhaps the most emotional member of the Sacramento State party was Beverly, who earned the league’s individual title with a 54-hole total of 215 (-1). Beverly shot an even-par round of 72, grinding out tough pars on the back-nine, while engaged with a duel with Northern Colorado’s Coby Welch.
Welch made several grinding pars, staying within a stroke of Beverly in to the 18
th green. When the freshman’s 15-foot birdie putt sailed wide right, it cleared the way for the Big Sky’s best player to earn the conference’s top recognition of individual champion.
After two blustery days in Boulder City, the conditions in the final round were primed for scoring. In all, every team either tied or beat their second-round score, with Hartford improving 22 strokes. The Hawks were led by Elias Gross, who shot an even-par 72 to finish in a tie for second with Welch and Sacramento State’s Robert Parden.
Several teams made a charge at Sacramento State to start the day, with the round’s low score coming from Idaho’s Enrique Marin. Marin shot a five-under-par, finishing improving 16 strokes from first-to-final rounds. The Hornets placed three golfers on the All-Tournament Team, while placing all five golfers in the top-20.
Host Weber State improved its final-round score by 17 strokes over its second-round score, shooting a one-under-par 287. In all, three teams shot final rounds under-par.
The Hornets and Beverly will now advance to an NCAA regional site. Sacramento State equaled Idaho’s achievement from a year ago, winning both the men’s and women’s titles.