Simon Fraser University sophomore Chris Crisologo had an eagle on the fifth hole as part of a final day charge to capture the Mustang Intercollegiate this week at the Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Arizona.
The eagle was a key turning point in Crisologo’s come-from-behind 5-under-par 67 to win the title.
The Richmond golfer, ranked No. 20 in NCAA Division II, shot rounds of 69, 67, and 67 for a 203 total at the par 72, 7015 -yard course to share medallist honours with Brent Grant of BYU Hawaii, who fired rounds of 65, 69 and 69.
Grant finished with eight consecutive pars after beginning the final day with two-under on the front nine. That set the stage for Crisologo’s comeback, having started the day trailing the leader by two strokes.
The SFU golfer topped the tournament with 17 birdies and two eagles. He had 27 pars over the three rounds.
As co-winners, Crisologo and Grant finished 13-under par, seven strokes better than the next closest competitors.
It was the second tourney win this season for Crisologo, who has finished top-five in four tournaments, including victories in SFU’s first trip of the season last October.
In the team competition, No. 14 ranked Simon Fraser was one-under on the final day to finish the tournament 17 strokes behind BYU-Hawaii in eighth place. Simon Fraser sits in fourth place in the region as the team prepares for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships April 18 and 19 in Coeur D’Alene, ID.
Crisologo, who earned NCAA All-America Second Team honours after being named GNAC Freshman of the Year in 2015, crushed the par fives, finishing 12-under in the tournament and averaging four strokes on the holes.
Kevin Vigna and Jordan Hutchings also recorded eagles for Simon Fraser. Vigna finished even for the tournament to place 24th, while Marcus Brown finished four-over to tie for 48th. Craig Titterington tied for 68th and Hutchings was tied for 76th.
