Ethan Klose, SMCC Men's Golf Win Mesa Thunderbird Invitational

PHOENIX ---

Sophomore Ethan Klose won the Mesa Thunderbird Invitational by four strokes at five-under, 139 to help lead the South Mountain Community College men's golf to the team title at the event. The Cougars finished at five-under, 571 for the tournament to win by 12 strokes over Pima CC, and sophomore Zachary Erskine, freshman Brady Clark and sophomore Damon Vilkauskas all recorded top-10 finishes. 

Klose shot a four-under 68 in his second round to lead wire-to-wire and claim individual medalist honors. He opened with a one-under 71 on the par-72 Dobson Ranch Golf Course in Mesa, Ariz. A 2022 NJCAA First Team All-American, Klose won the ACCAC Fall Preview and recently competed in the inaugural edition of The Thunderbolt, a golf tournament held at Sterling Grove Country Club. 

Erskine tied for second at one-under 143 with 72 and 71 after tying for first at the season-opening CGCC Coyote Classic. Clark tied for fourth at one-over 145 with scores of 73 and 72, moving up two places on the final leaderboard after his second round. Vilkauskas also tied for fourth after carding rounds 72 and 73. 

Freshman Cole Finch moved up six spots after a second-round 73 to tie for 13th at five-over 149, and freshman Ryan Blair moved up nine spots after carding an even-par 72 over his second 18 holes to finish at seven-over 151. 

As a team, SMCC posted scores of 288 and 283 to finish at five-under 571 and win their second spring tournament. The Cougars' second round of five-under 283 helped them pull away from the Aztecs and Mesa CC, which finished at nine over 585.