Area Roundup: UI places fourth

Idaho’s men’s golf team posted its best finish in the Western Athletic Conference tournament Wednesday by shooting a final-day-best 298 to climb from seventh to fourth in the final standings at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club in San Jose, Calif.

David Nuhn (228) was the Vandals’ top finisher in 11th place, 19 shots behind medalist Troy Merritt of Boise State. New Mexico State won the team title with a 27-over 891.

“Kevin Tucker (291) led 10th-place Washington State with a 23rd-place finish at the Pacific-10 Conference Championships at Meadow Club Golf Course in Fairfax, Calif.

Arizona’s Creighton Honeck shot a 3-under 281 and edged out Kevin Chappell of UCLA on the 10th playoff hole to win the tournament. USC shot 15 over for a first-place team finish.

Tennis

After one year as interim coach, Darren Haworth has been named the head men’s and women’s coach at Eastern Washington.

Haworth led the Eagles men to their best season in school history, a Big Sky Conference title and berth into the NCAA championships. He also guided the women to their first double-digit win season in 15 years.

“Washington State senior Ekaterina Burduli was one of 64 players named to the 2008 NCAA Women’s Championships singles field. Ranked No. 47, she is one of 18 Pacific-10 Conference players named to the singles draw that will take place May 21-26 in Tulsa, Okla.

Track

Eastern Washington junior Mattie Bridgmon was named the Big Sky Conference Track Athlete of the Week.

Bridgmon broke her school record with a time of 16 minutes, 33.60 seconds to finish fifth in the 5,000-meter run at last weekend’s Oregon Relays. Her time qualified her for the Big Sky Conference Championship and the NCAA West Regional.

Bridgmon broke Kari McKay’s 5,000 school record of 16:57.71 at the Mt. Sac Relays on April 17.