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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Vandals’ Amazing Golf Run Ends With Defeat In Three-Way Playoff

The University of Idaho’s wild ride into the NCAA golf tournament came to an end after a playoff Saturday at Riverbend Golf Course in Madera, Calif.

The Vandals were tied for 10th at the NCAA West Regional with Stanford and California after the regulation 54 holes. One berth in the national tournament at Augusta, Ga., was at stake.

The Vandals were eliminated on the first playoff hole, while California eventually went on to claim the final berth after two more holes.

The Vandals shot 865 for the 54 holes.

“We just came up one shot short,” said Idaho coach Brad Rickel, whose team was seeded 21st out of 27. “We’re disappointed but we also know we were huge overachievers. And we are the best UI golf team ever.”

Arizona won the regional with an 839 and was followed by UNLV and BYU (843 each), USC (848), New Mexico (850), Fresno State and Arizona State (851 each), Washington (855) and Pepperdine (864).

Junior Ryan Benzel of Ritzville was the top Vandal. He tied for 10th with a 212 three-day total.

Baseball

Yakima Valley (26-17) ended Community Colleges of Spokane’s (20-21) season with a 3-1 victory in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Eastern Region baseball tournament at Spokane Falls Community College.

Yakima heads to the regional tournament as a No. 2 seed. Columbia Basin College is the top seed.

Tennis

A pair of Community Colleges of Spokane doubles teams advanced to the finals of the NWAACC women’s tennis championships at Spokane Community College.

Rachel Sauer and Bernice Stime won their semifinal match in No. 1 doubles play, while Laem Kuntz and Tiffany Miner advanced with a victory in the No. 2 doubles bracket.

In men’s play at Spokane Falls C.C., Corey DeLeonard finished third in No. 2 singles. Clint Taxter placed fourth in No. 3 singles and DeLeonard and Don Roberts finished third in No. 1 doubles action.

Junior hockey

Ramzi Abid scored a hat-trick to help the Halifax Mooseheads open the Memorial Cup with a 5-2 win over the Barrie Colts in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The Mooseheads were energized by two Abid power-play goals within the first 5 minutes of the game.