No. 22 U of R Men's Golf Finishes as Top Division III Team at High-Caliber Las Vegas Desert Classic

Cade Lawson putts at an earlier tournament.

The No. 22 University of Redlands men's golf team took on quality competition at the Las Vegas Desert Classic at the Royal Links Golf Club on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.  While finishing as the highest NCAA Division III team at the tournament, the Bulldogs landed near the middle of the final standings at 13th with a 54-hole total of 919 (314-299-306).

The Maroon and Gray earned the best finish of any Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) school at the tournament, with the University of La Verne and Pomona-Pitzer Colleges earning 15th- and 16th-place, respectively.

In addition, the field included 15 NCAA Division II teams, with eight of them at least receiving votes in the top-25 poll, as highlighted by top-ranked West Florida University.

For Redlands, junior Cade Lawson (Lake Oswego, OR) finished in a tie for 16th place on the individual leaderboard by signing his scorecard with a 223.  After shooting a 78 on the opening day, he impressed in the second round with a 69 and then wrapped up the event with a 76. Overall, he posted 10 birdies over the three days.

Sophomore Cameron Cooper (Seattle, WA) provided consistent rounds of 77-75-77 to finish with a tie-for-41st 229.  Statistically, he landed among the top 20 in par-three scoring (3.08), par-four scoring (4.10), and pars (37). 

Junior Alex Stroes (San Marcos, CA), sophomore Dylan Merchant (Ellsworth, WI), and sophomore Diego Cortes (Santiago, Chile) all finished within two strokes of each other to complete the Bulldogs' scoring five.  Stroes led the trio with a 234 (79-77-78), while Merchant posted the lowest single round of the group at 75, which came on the final day. 

In addition, senior George Galanis (Chicago, IL) competed as an individual and finished tied-for-46th with a 230 (77-81-72).

The Bulldogs look forward to the West Cup, which takes place on Monday, March 26, and Tuesday, March 27, at the Sierra La Verne Golf Course in La Verne.