Morning Star Staff
Vernon’s Conner Kozak helped the UBC Thunderbirds win the 42nd Western Washington University Viking Men’s Invitational Tournament which ended Tuesday at the 6,561-yard Bellingham Golf and Country Club.
It was UBC’s third title at the WWU event, the last being in 2007. The Thunderbirds also won in 1989.
UBC, which was third after 36 holes Monday, shot 9-under par 279, the best round of the tourney, to win by five strokes at 867. Sonoma State was second at 872 (285). Tied for third at 878 were Dixie State (286) and Simon Fraser (291).
Kozak shot an even-par 72 on Tuesday and ended up at 5-over 221 (74-75-72), in a tie for 16th.
After the first two rounds, UBC, which was the only NAIA school in the NCAA Division II field, was in third place, a shot off the lead.
A pair of Calgarians led the way for UBC. Scott Secord carded a final round 4-under 68 to tie for fourth place in the individual competition with an overall 2-under 214. Evan Holmes also earned a top-10 spot, tying for seventh. He went 3-under today to complete the tournament with a total of 217 (75-73-69).
Dixie State’s Kenny You hung on to take medalist honors, shooting 69 for a 10-under total of 206. That was one stroke better than Sonoma State’s Alex Marry (69-207). Montana State Billings’ Brad Harrelson was third at 212 (74), with Kelly and UBC’s Scott Secord (70) tied for fourth at 214.
Kozak was last spring named a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-American.
The NAIA-Men’s Golf Coaches Association All-America Committee selected three NAIA Men’s Golf All-America teams, which consist of 15 individuals each.
The 5-foot-11 Seaton Sonics’ grad is studying third-year kinesiology.
In 21 rounds last season, including the NAIA Men’s Golf Championship, Kozak had a scoring average of 74.24.
The Thunderbirds placed 10th at the season-opening Itani Quality Homes Collegiate tournament, hosted by Washington State University in Pullman, Wash.
Kozak tied for 10th at 1-under 69-71-69-209.
