Damon Vilkauskas, SMCC Men's Golf Win Paradise Valley Invite

PHOENIX ---

Sophomore Damon Vilkauskas won individual medalist honors with a final score of -7 (137) at the Paradise Valley Invite Mar. 13-14 at Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix. Vilkauskas posted rounds of 69 and 68 to post his first individual tournament win as a Cougar, while the SMCC men's golf team overcame a sluggish first day with a 20-stroke improvement in round two to win the event by 12 strokes over Mesa CC. 

Vilkauskas opened with a three-under 69 to tie with Pima CC's Herman Holst for the tournament lead after 18 holes. In the second round, Vilkauskas carded a four-under 68 to defeat Mesa CC's Dawson Moon and Holst by three strokes. 

Sophomore Ethan Klose tied for fourth at -3 (141) with rounds of 74 and 67. His second-round 67 tied for the lowest round at the event. Sophomore Zachary Erskine also tied for fourth at -3 (141) with rounds of 72 and 69. 

Freshman Cole Finch tied for seventh at +1 (145) with rounds of 77 and 68 as he posted a nine-stroke improvement in his second round. Freshman Ryan Blair tied for 19th at +5 (149) and posted an 11-shot improvement in his second round with scores of 80 and 69. 

Freshman Brady Clark tied for 34th at +11 (155) with scores of 83 and 72 and mirrored Blair with an 11-shot improvement in his second round. 

As a team, those second-round improvements helped lift SMCC to the team title. After 18 holes, the Cougars trailed Pima CC by two strokes, but their second-round team score of 272 was 20 strokes better than the Aztecs and 10 strokes better than Mesa CC.