DENVER UTEPs Chris Baryla and Tulsas Cas Bridge have been named the Western Athletic Conference mens and womens Golfers of the Month for October.
Baryla, a senior from Vernon, B.C., Canada, finished in the top 10 at three tournaments in October. He won the fourth tournament of his college career at the Barona Collegiate Cup in Lakeside, Calif. on Oct. 21-22, shooting a career-low 199 (69-63-67), helping the Miners to a second-place team finish. It marked just the second time in his career that he has had three sub-70 rounds in a tournament. Baryla also shot a 210 (71-69-70) at the Fresno Lexus Classic in Fresno, Calif. Oct. 10-11, tying for seventh place. UTEP finished sixth at that tournament. Baryla tied for second place at the Wolf Pack Classic in Reno, Nev. Oct. 6-7 where he carded a 206 (71-69-66), as UTEP was fourth at the tournament. For the month of October, Baryla averaged 68.3 over nine rounds of play.
Bridge, a sophomore from Ferndale, South Africa, placed among the top-10 in three tournaments, as all three of her finishes were better than her previous years best of eighth. She placed sixth at both the Stanford Intercollegiate with a three-under, 213, and the Landfall Tradition with a +5, 221. Bridge carded her career-best finish, placing fourth at the Furman Lady Paladin with a three-over par 219.
Additional mens nominees included: Matt Kodama, Hawaii; Preston Smith, Louisiana Tech and Chris Noel, Tulsa
Additional womens nominees included: Amy Willmon, UTEP