The Red Leafs were sharp on the greens in Idaho earlier this week.
In fact, the SFU women's golf team was so dominant, they broke multiple Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) records en route to winning a second straight championship.
The Burnaby-based team shot a two-round collective total of 596 at Coeur d’Alene Resort to claim the 2024 GNAC title, 13 shots better than the standard they set last year at 609.
All five SFU golfers finished in the top 10 to get to that result — plus the trophy — as well as a qualifying bid for regionals in May. Should the team succeed there, the Red Leafs will look to play for the NCAA Div. II national championship.
First-year Dana Smith shot a record-setting two-under par (-2) from the two-day event to win the individual GNAC championship by two strokes.
"It feels amazing, and it is more than I could have ever imagined,” said the Campbell River, B.C., athlete, who beat the previous record low by three shots, 142 from 145. It was also Smith's first-ever collegiate tournament victory.
"It was amazing and we all had so much fun jumping into the lake. We worked really hard for this, and it really paid off."
Smith recorded three birdies and an eagle to overcome a three-stroke deficit on day two to seal the deal. The scores helped SFU win the championship by 14 strokes over Western Washington.
The rest of the SFU contingent finished as follows:
- Sueah Park (sophomore)
- Third, six-over par (+6)
- Meera Minhas (sophomore)
- Fourth, eight-over par (+8)
- Anaya Bhandal (sophomore)
- Tied for sixth, 10-over par (+10)
- Kassie Muanyam (junior)
- Tied for sixth, 10-over par (+10)
SFU head coach Matthew Steinbach said he's confident in all of his players as the team turns focus to west regionals.
"It’s such an incredible moment for the team, and this is the tournament that we look forward to all year," said Steinbach in a GNAC release.
"We are in a really tough west region, and winning the GNAC to get the AQ spot is really important. We had our sights set on that this week, and I am so proud of them for pulling through."
SFU will head to Stockton, Cali., soon for the NCAA Div. II west regional championship, scheduled to take place May 6 to 8 at Brookside Golf and Country Club.
If they are one of the 18 teams to advance to nationals, the Red Leafs will head to Orlando, Fla., for May 21 to 25.
Men's golf
Meanwhile, Michael Crisologo went out and got himself a 23rd birthday gift to remember — the GNAC individual tournament trophy.
The SFU senior rallied to a 13-under par (-13) score over three days at Coeur d’Alene Resort to win by five strokes.
His Red Leafs finished second in the team event with a combined total of 846, eight shots behind eventual-champion Western Washington.
