DENVER - NM State's Ryo Harada and CSU Bakersfield's Tori Peers have been named Western Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Golfers of the Week, respectively, for the week of April 5 through April 11.
Harada, a freshman from Machida City, Tokyo, Japan (Yoyogi HS), took home medalist honors at the rain-shortened Jim West Intercollegiate. The freshman shot a 1-under-par 71 to open the tournament and followed that up with a 7-under-par 65 to tie a tournament record for low round. The 65 also ties the low round in the WAC this season as Harada won the tournament by three strokes with an 8-under-par 136. As a team, the Aggies finished tied for third among 12 teams.
Peers, a junior from Grand Island, Neb. (Grand Island HS), had the best tournament in CSU Bakersfield women's golf history, shooting a 6-over-par 222 to finish in a tie for seventh at the Bobcat Desert Invitational. She opened the tournament with a school-record 1-under-par 71. After posting two more rounds in the 70s, she broke CSUB's all-time 54-hole scoring record by four strokes. She also helped the ‘Runners smash the school's 54-hole team record by nine strokes with a 928.
Other men's nominees: UMKC's Jakob Garstecki finished 13th at the Tiger Invitational with a 4-over-par 220 … UT Rio Grande Valley's Pedro Lamadrid finished in a tie for 17th with a 1-over-par 145 at the Jim West Intercollegiate … Utah Valley's Blair Bursey shot a 3-under-par 213 at the PING Cougar Classic to move into the top spot on the WAC scoring list.
Other women's nominees: UMKC's Mackenzie Black shot a 13-over-par 229 to finish fifth at the Kansas City Shootout, hosted by the Roos … NM State's Camille Orito took second at the Dale McNamara Invitational in Tulsa, firing a 7-over-par 217 … UT Rio Grande Valley's Jessica Young tied for 15th at the Kansas City Shootout … Utah Valley's Carly Dehlin led the Wolverines to their best team finish of the season, finishing 14th individually to help UVU finish sixth at the Bobcat Desert Invitational.