UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. - The UBC Thunderbirds (301-292-293, +34) finished in a tie for 16th in a deep field loaded with NCAA Division I competition at the Redhawk Invitational. The three-round tournament, hosted by Seattle University, took place at Chamber's Bay Golf Course, site of the 2015 U.S. Open, April 1-2.

Coming off of a dramatic, playoff hole victory their last time out, the T-Birds were set up for what was likely their toughest test of the season in the 18-team field, consistently mostly of DI opponents. Indeed, it was exclusively schools from the top tier of the NCAA that took each of the first ten places at the tournament, led by the highest-ranked team in attendance, NCAA DI No.59-ranked Oregon State (281-276-270, -25), which ran away with a 19-stroke victory.



UBC posted the 13th best score in the field for Tuesday's final round to solidify 16th overall, which is where the team sat after day one, ultimately tying with Central Michigan (301-295-290, +34). The 'Birds finished two strokes behind the UFV Cascades (289-297-298, +32) for 14th and four strokes ahead of the University of Victoria (296-299-295, +38) for 18th. 

FULL LEADERBOARD

Individually, Oregon State's Jackson Lake (65-68-69, -11) earned medalist honours by a stroke, also the player to break 70 in every round. Idaho's Johannes Hounsgaard (72, 63, 68, -10) was runner up, powered by his second round 63 (-8), the best 18 holes played by anyone in the tournament.



For the 'Birds, Mackenzie Bickell (74-70-71, +2) was the top individual, tying for 23rd, which was also the best mark among non-DI golfers. Dylan MacDonald (71-75-74, +7) was next up in a tie for 51st, after posting the best score of any T-Bird in the tournament's first round, though his tally did not count toward the team total as he entered as an independent. First year Forrest Van Alstine (79-76-71, +13) finished in a tie for 78th in his UBC debut, with his final round of 71 (E) matching Bickell for best among the 'Birds.

Next up for UBC is their penultimate Cascade Collegiate Conference event of the season, the Warrior Invitational hosted by Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho). That event is taking place at the Lewiston Golf and Country Club, April 15-16. The T-Birds have won both of the CCC events that they've played this season.