Several fantastic collegiate careers closed this week following regional championships.
The four-year careers of Will Blake, Luke Cote, Alex Swinnerton, and Guillermo Salazar all came to an end this week. Blake and Cote spent four years at Southern Arkansas University (SAU) teeing it up for the Muleriders following great junior careers in Regina.
On May 7 to 9 in Big Rapids, Michigan SAU competed in the NCAA Div. II Central/Midwest Regional at Katke Golf Course, the home of the Ferris State Bulldogs golf team. Blake signed for rounds of 77, 75, and 75 to leave himself in 60th in his final event. Cote tied for 77th at 230 (78, 76, 76). Carter Bell of Saskatoon was also on SAU’s team, he shot 77, 76, and 73 to tie for 60th.
The Muleriders as a team were 17th as a team.
Two more superb scholars will walk across the stage this week following the end of their careers. Waskesiu Golf Course junior graduates Swinnerton and Salazar each had college wins over four years at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).
The Crimson Hawks were in Johnstown, Pennsylvania at Sunnehanna Country Club for the NCAA Div. II East/Atlantic Regional, also on May 7 to 9. Swinnerton was in the top 10 going into the final round seeking a national spot, but after rounds of 72 and 70, the Saskatoon product shot 76 to land tied for 25th, fittingly alongside long term pal Salazar of Calgary. He opened with a 76, 69, and 73.
The pair spent summers together playing junior golf at Waskesiu and will end their careers at IUP next to each other on the leaderboard.
The Crimson Hawks were eighth as a team.
Back in late April, another collegiate career ended as Battleford’s Colby Friedrich graduated from the University of Providence in Great Falls, Montana.
Friedrich played his last college tournament on April 28 and 29 in Phoenix, Arizona at Papago Golf Club. He shot 78, 79, and 80 to tie for 19th at the Frontier Conference Championship.
The Argos were eighth as a team.
Ben Staines of Saskatoon wrapped up his rookie season at Mount Aloysius College on April 26 and 27 in Chardon, Ohio at Sand Ridge Golf Club. Competing as an individual at the Caschera/DiCillo Classic Staines carded rounds of 87 and 85 to place 39th.
His Mounties’ teammates were fourth in the team standings. The team is in Howey-In-The-Hills, Florida this week for the NCAA Div. III National Championship but Staines in not in the field.