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SMCC Men's Golf, Damon Vilkauskas Win NJCAA Region I Division II Titles
Posted: May 01, 2023

SMCC Men's Golf, Damon Vilkauskas Win NJCAA Region I Division II Titles

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PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College men's golf team won the NJCAA Region I Division II Tournament from April 27-30 at Corte Bella Golf Course in Sun City West, Ariz. As a team, the Cougars finished at +1 (1,137) over the four days to defeat second-place Glendale CC by 25 strokes. Individually, sophomore Damon Vilkauskas won his fourth-straight Individual Medalist honors and finished at 10-under, 274 to defeat Glendale CC's Warner Beach by 10 strokes. 

SMCC opened with a team score of 296 to give it a two-stroke lead over Glendale CC, Mesa CC and Pima CC. The Cougars improved to 289 in the second round to put some distance between their competition and then posted scores of 274 (tournament low) and 278 to claim the Regional Championship. 

Vilkauskas has now won the last four tournaments he's entered for SMCC. After a challenging 74 to start the tournament, he quickly rebounded with rounds of 68, 65 (tournament low) and 67 to win by 10 strokes. He posted five birdies and one bogey over his final 18 holes. 

Freshman Cole Finch moved up three spots over his final round to finish in a tie for fourth at +4 (288). He opened with consecutive 75s before carding a pair of two-under 69s to tie with Glendale CC's Kyle Roberts and Pima CC's Max Krueger. He had six birdies and four bogeys in his final round. 

Sophomores Ethan Klose and Zachary Erskine tied for seventh at +5 (289). Klose posted scores of 72, 75, 72 and 70, while Erskine carded rounds of 75, 73, 68 and 73. Klose had three birdies on Sunday's final round, and Erskine added two.

Freshman Ryan Blair moved up four spots over his final round with a one-over 72 to tie for 16th at +20 (304). He entered Sunday with scores of 83, 73 and 76 before posting his best round of the weekend. 

SMCC, the 2022 NJCAA Division II National Champions, will now set its sights on the 2023 NJCAA Division II National Championships at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Ind., from May 23-26.