Men’s and women’s golf end fall season after successful run

As the fall season comes to a close for Pacific University’s Men’s and Women’s Golf team, both look to the past to improve their future. The two sides saw some great results from freshman and consistent numbers from returners, which should lead to a promising spring season for Boxer golf.

Freshman Kelsey Nakagawa starred in her first collegiate tournament, securing the individual title at the Pacific’s invitational scoring an 84. This was three strokes better than any other competitor, leading the Boxers to also successfully take home the team title. 

Freshman Madison Cabardo led the helm for the Boxers at the Northwest Conference Fall Classic, finishing thirteenth with a score of 169. This was Cabardo’s second time leading the Boxers after she tied for eighth along with three others, leading the Pacific women’s golf team to a fourth-place finish at the Pacific Lutheran University Invitational. Senior Jessica Braun climbed into the top 15, lowering her score by three strokes in Sunday’s final round with an 86 — which helped the Boxers finish fifth in the tournament. 

As for the men, their highest finish was second at the Pacific invitational. A pair of newcomers including Matthew Zaback, Brian Parker as well as sophomore Bryce Krautstrunk led the team by shooting a 77, sharing the fourth-place spot. Zaback led the Boxers again at the George Fox University Invitational with a 73, finishing nineteenth overall. 

One of the biggest highlights of the fall season came from senior Braden Ash scoring a career best at the Northwest Conference Fall Classic. Shooting one-under 71 to finish tied for seventeenth with a 152, Ash moved up 13 places in the final round. With an 11-stroke improvement in the final round, the Pacific men’s golf took ninth at the tournament as a team. 

Overall, both Boxer golf teams have found some new players who look to compete at a high level in the Northwest Conference, and with strong plays from the returning golfers their spring season could prove to be a very positive one. With much to improve and many teams in front, nothing stands in the Boxer’s way with the right base and mindset.