Cougar Men's Golf Wins 2023 Coyote Shootout

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College men's golf team won the 2023 Coyote Shootout with a team score of -6 (562) over two rounds of golf and 36 holes on Sept. 6-7 at the GCU Golf Course in Phoenix, Ariz. The Cougars opened their 2023 fall season with a 17-stroke victory at the tournament with freshman Dillon Dean leading SMCC with a third-place finish at -5 (137). 

SMCC actually finished third, fourth, fifth, and sixth individually at the two-day event. Dillon finished two strokes behind the tournament winner, Pima CC's Caysen Wright, with rounds of 69 and 68.

Freshman Nick Ummel took fourth at -2 (140) with two rounds of 70, and freshman Gael Quesada was fifth at even par with scores of 73 and 69. Finally, freshman Dylan Kohner placed sixth with a two-day total of 143 to finish at +1. 

Sophomore Eric Klutke was the fifth Cougar to place in the top 10, taking 10th at +5 (146) with scores of 75 and 71. Sophomore Cole Finch tied for 11th at +5 (147) with scores of 73 and 74. 

As a team, SMCC opened with a 284 to take a four-shot lead over Eastern Arizona and a five-stroke advantage of Pima CC after 18 holes. The Cougars improved their score by six strokes in the second round, finishing with a tournament-low 278 that was 13 strokes better than their nearest rival.