GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Make it three titles for the Western New Mexico. The top-ranked team in the South Central Region continued their solid spring moving from four-strokes back, to the clear favorite winning by eight-shots over the field at the Mustang Intercollegiate that wrapped up Tuesday at the par-72, 7,015-yard Palm Valley Golf Course.
The Mustangs, ranked 10th in the GCAA and 12th in the latest GolfStat poll, saved their best for last, utilizing a 281 to win against the 20-team field with an 853 (282-290-281), besting Cal State-Stanislaus' second-best score of 861. Sophomore Thomas Neve nearly made it a clean sweep for the Mustangs, as he finished just a stroke out of taking the individual title. Colorado State-Pueblo's Alex Tiong held off Colorado Mesa's Colin Prater in a playoff to win the medalist title after both finished with 208s.
Neve capitalized on solid par-4 and par-5 scoring, where he was minus-nine overall, to make his move on the field. His third round 71 helped complete the week of under-par rounds following day one totals of 68 and 70 for a 209 to land in third. Sophomore Calum Hill tied senior David Metz for the top score on the team Tuesday as each carded 69's. Hill ended up tied for eighth with a 212 (68-75-69), as he tied for the most birdies with 15. Freshman Harry Wetton was consistent throughout, following an opening round of one-over 73, he pared the final two rounds (72-72) for a 217 and tied for 19th. Metz ended strong with his final day 69, after rounds of 76 and 75 for a 220 and landed in a tie for 33rd. Sophomore Ben Skinner was just one-stroke back of Metz with scores of 73, 73, and 75 for a 221 and a tie for 38th.
The WNMU "B" Team also competed landing in a tie for 17th with an 891 (294-299-298). Freshman Anthony McGeorge and sophomore Dan Young led the way tying for 26th with a pair of 219's. McGeorge had his best score in the opening round with a 72, he followed that with tallies of 74 and 73. Young opened with a 75 and then fired off a one-under 71 in the middle round before ending with a 73. Sophomore Deryk "Buzz" Perales was just a few shots back as he carded a 222 (73-73-76) to tie for 45th. Sophomore Brendan Shannon tied for 78th with a 231 (74-81-76), while junior Ted Flores finished with a 256 (86-81-89) to land in 99th.
