UVic’s Rowe off to golf nationals

It was mission accomplished for Lawren Rowe, but his University of Victoria Vikes teammates will have to wait and see if they are headed to the NAIA national golf championships.

Third-year Vike Rowe finished just one stroke back of overall champion Evan Holmes of UBC after Tuesday’s final round at the regional championships at Brassie Golf Club in Chesterton, Indiana.

Rowe fired a 79 in the second round in the morning, but turned it up in the afternoon with a final-round 71. The runner-up finish earns Rowe an automatic spot at the men’s nationals, which are slated for May 16-19 at TPC Deere Run Golf Course in Moline, Illinois.

The Vikes men as a team also finished second to UBC, but only the tournament winner earns an automatic berth to nationals. UVic must now wait to hear if they are awarded an at-large berth to the NAIA finals. UVic’s Brandon McManus finished fifth place overall with rounds of 74, 74 and 75. Teammate Mike Griffin was sixth after rounds of 77, 73 and 74, while Jake Hamilton was eighth (76, 75, 77) and Jacob Hayes 12th (78, 79, 74).

On the women’s side, the Vikes also finished second to UBC, so they too must wait to see if they receive an at-large berth to the women’s nationals May 23-26 at PGA National Golf Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

UVic was led by Laura Ferreira, who finished fourth overall thanks to rounds of 78 and 78. Hannah Diamond was fifth after shooting 79 and 78, while Nicole Gargarella was eighth (82, 81), Rhiannon Jones ninth (84, 83) and Quinn Fitzgerald 10th (87, 87).