Swinnerton collects fourth college win

Alex Swinnerton concluded his fall season at IUP ranked as the 100th Div. 2 men's golfer in the U.S.

Alex Swinnerton is now a four time college champion after winning the Hannastown Invitational this week for Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).

The Saskatoon product has started the fall season for the Crimson Hawks on a torrid pace finishing second, third, and now first at the Hannastown Golf Club. Swinnerton shot an opening round of 70, then carded back-to-back rounds of 69 to win by a shot over Robin Duzman.

Swinnerton’s results, plus Waskesiu junior graduate Guillermo Salazar’s tie for fifth helped IUP take the team title as well. Salazar, who resides in Calgary but spend many summers in Waskesiu went 70, 71, and 72.

Next up for the Crimson Hawks is the Howard “Bud” Elwell Invitational in Erie, PA. beginning on Oct. 7.

In Lake City, Minn. on Sept. 24 and 25 the Minot State University (MSU) Beavers were in action for the Watkins Fall Invitational at The Jewel Golf Club. Loaded with Saskatchewan talent, the Beavers were fourth out of 13 schools at the event led by Estevan’s Chase Gedak. He shot 72 and 71, good enough for a tie for 12th place overall.

Winston Grayson (Kipling) opened with a 77 but bounced back beautifully with a 70 in round two, he tied for 20th.

Jace Carlisle, also of Estevan tied for 22nd at 5-over par, 148 (72, 76). Darien Herlick of Weyburn started with a 77, the Golf Kenosee member chopped a handful of strokes off inn the second round tying for 26th at 6-over par, 249.

In the women’s event, Holly Knudsen of Chaplin shot 81 and 79 for a two day total of 160, she tied for 32nd overall.

The women Beavers’ team was eighth in the squad competition.

MSU will head to Bismarck, N.D. for the Marauder Fall Invitational at Hawktree Golf Course beginning Sept. 30.

In Robinsonville, Miss. the Milsaps Majors and Saskatoon’s Will Danielson were in action at the Tunica National Golf and Tennis on Sept. 23 and 24. The Riverside Country Club member opened the event with a 77, , he followed that with a 78, but played much better in the final round shooting 72 and vaulting 13 spots up the leaderboard on the final day eventually placing in a tie for 40th.

The Majors were 14th as a team and will look to rebound on that finish at the West Pines Collegiate in Douglasville, Ga. On Oct. 7 and 8.

Saskatoon’s Caden Loeppky was on the course competing for the Waldorf University Warriors on Sept. 21 and 22. Loeppky was in Storm Lake, IA. for the Buena Vista Invite, he shot 83 and 91 at the Lake Creek Country Club, that left him in 43rd place. The Warriors team placed eighth.

Next stop is the Waldorf Invitational in Albert Lea, Minn. starting Sept. 29.

In Shelby, Mont. on Sept. 23 and 24 there was plenty of Saskatchewan talent on display. Besides a match-play event earlier in September, Swift Current’s Makstyr McIntyre got his college career off and running. The Elmwood Golf Club member is attending Rocky Mountain College, his first full stroke play event was 54 holes where McIntyre shot 78, 72, and 81 for a solid 13th place finish. He was competing as an individual.

Also in the field was Colby Friedrich of North Battleford and Reigna’s Adam Husli competing for the University of Providence Argos. Husli, shot 81, 76, and 76, he was 15th. Friedrich was 25th after posting rounds of 86, 85, and 76.

Both Friedrich and Husli suit up for the Argos men’s hockey team as well with Friedrich serving as the captain.

Rocky Mountain College won the four team event, Providence was fourth.

The Battlin’ Bears host their next action on Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 in Billings, Mont. for the Beartooth Invitational, the Argos will be in the event as well.

The MSSU Fall Invitational took place at Shangri La Resort on Sept. 23 and 24th with the Southern Arkansas University (SAU) Muleriders in the tournament.

The weather shortened the event to 36 holes with Regina’s Luke Cote and Will Blake in the field competing for SAU. Cote shot 74 and 75, he was tied for 40th, Blake posted a 77 and 75, he was tied for 58th.

The Muleriders were 15th as a team. SAU will travel to Hot Springs, Ark. for the Battle for the Belt on Sept. 30 at Hot Springs Country Club.

From Sept. 15 to 17 Regina’s Hallie Crozier and the Ferris State Bulldogs were in Allendale, Mich. for the Folds of Honour Qualifier at The Meadows at Grand Valley State. The Royal Regina Golf Club member led the team with a top 10 performance. Crozier shot 77, 79, and a solid 73 to finish at 229, 16 strokes off the winner.

Ferris collected the bronze medal as a team led by Crozier’s finish. The Bulldogs are in Findlay, Oh. for the Beall Fall Classic on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

Cole Taylor of Nipawin and the Park University Buccaneers were at Las Colinas Golf Club on Sept. 23 and 24 for the Park Gilbert Fall Invitational. The Evergreen Golf Course player and staffer played well tying for 16th at 1-under par, 212. He shot rounds of 73, 71, and 68.

Team standings were not available. Park will be in Surprise, Ariz. for the OUAZ Fall Invitational kicking off an Sept. 30 at Sterling Grove Golf and Country Club.

At the Tot Hill Farm Invitational on Sept. 23 and 24 Ella Kozak and the Western Carolina University Catamounts were in action. Competing in Asheboro, N.C. the Yorkton product helped the team to a seventh place finish by shooting 80, 75, and 81 and ending up in 38th place overall.

Western Carolina University is off until Oct. 11 when they head to Chapel Hill, N.C. for the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational.

Justin Miller of Saskatoon continued his rookie season for the Southwestern Community College (SCC) Spartans over the last week as well. On Sept. 19 the team competed in the one day stroke play Graceland Fall Invitational in Lamoni. Cal. Playing as an individual Miller shot 10-over par 82, he tied for 22nd. The Spartans won the team portion of the event.

Their next event is the NJCAA Division II Men’s National Championship Preview at Swan lake Resort in Plymouth, Ind. teeing off on Sept. 30.

Here in Canada, Myles Johnson and the University of Victoria Vikes golf team opened their season at the Simon Fraser University True North Classic in Burnaby, B.C. on Sept. 23 and 24. Competing at the Riverway Golf Course, the Martensville product opened his fall season with a 39th overall finish at 20-over par 236 (82, 75, 79).

The Vikes were sixth as a team. The team will travel south and meet up with Taylor and potentially Solomon Ness at the OUAZ Fall Invitational on Sept. 30.