Cougar Men's Golf Opens 2022 Fall Season at Gaucho Shootout

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College men's golf team finished second at the season-opening Gaucho Shootout Sept. 7-8 at the GCU Championship Golf Course with a team score of one-under, 567. Sophomore Ethan Klose paced the Cougars with a second-place finish at seven-under, 135, while freshman Ryan Blair recorded a top-10 finish by tying for sixth at even-par, 142. 

In the first tournament under new SMCC head coach Brady Edwards, the Cougars opened the event at four-over, 288 and then carded a five-under, 279 in their second round. Glendale CC won the event at nine-under 559. 

Klose, a member of the 2022 NJCAA Division II National Champions, opened the tournament with a two-under 69 and then scored a five-under 66 in the final round to finish at seven-under 135. He finished two strokes behind the tournament's winner, Mesa CC's Tyler Gearce. 

Blair tied for sixth at even-par, 142 with rounds of 72 and 70, moving up two spots on the final leaderboard after his opening 18 holes. Freshman Nikolas Kittilson tied for 11th at three-over, 145 with rounds of 74 and 71, and he rose four places in the final standings after his opening round. 

Sophomore Zachary Erskine took 14th at four-over, 146 with two rounds of 73. Fellow sophomore Daniel Thompson tied for 19th at six-over, 148, with scores of 76 and 72. He moved up four spots on the final leaderboard with his one-over 72 in the second round. 

Freshman Luke Greig finished 29th at 11-over, 153, with rounds of 77 and 76.