HENDERSON, NV – For the second consecutive year, the UBC Thunderbirds have won both sides of the RMC Intercollegiate at Lake Las Vegas, hosted by Rocky Mountain College. The victories continue a season-long streak for both teams, each having won every single NAIA and NCAA DII event that they've entered.
The NAIA No.1-ranked T-Birds women (916, +52) breezed to their third consecutive victory at the event, ballooning a seven-stroke lead at the end of the first round into a 32-stroke advantage at the end of the second, before eventually cruising to a 35-stroke victory over second-place Oregon Tech (951, +87).
The NAIA No.10-ranked 'Birds men (882, +18) had a strong nine-stroke lead after the first round, but saw it shrink to just three strokes over The Master's University by the end of round two. The third round was a microcosm of the first two combined, as the blue and gold extended their advantage to 11 by the turn before holding on to pull out the win by just a single stroke over The Master's (883, +19).
Individually,
Grace Bell (221, +5) was runner-up for a third time this season, to compliment her
historic victory at the Wigwam Preview last month. Amazingly, she has not finished lower than sixth in a single tournament all season, despite playing in three NCAA Division I events.
She was followed by
Una Chou (229, +13) in fourth,
Jessica Ng (231, +15) in a tie for fifth, and
Elizabeth Labbe (236, +20) in 10
th to round out a dominant performance from the team's top four.
For the men,
Aidan Schumer (214, -2) was the top T-Bird and held the overall lead after round two, before finishing alone in third by the end of the event. Behind him, the next best 'Birds all tied for sixth, with
Dylan MacDonald,
Hudson LaFayette and
Mackenzie Bickell all carding three-round totals of 223 (+7).
Both teams are now off for more than a month before playing together in their final regular season tournament, the Southern Oregon Spring Classic at Stone Ridge Golf Club in Eagle Point, Oregon, April 7-8.
Following that, the T-Birds will have a chance to defend their conference crowns at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships at Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, Oregon, April 21-23.
