Idaho placed second at the Big Sky Conference Championship on April 29, finishing with a team score of 14-under 850 after three rounds at Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park, Arizona. The team posted a final round score of 279 to secure the runner-up position behind Sacramento State, which finished with an overall score of 841.
The Vandals started the tournament with a first-round total of 291 but improved in subsequent rounds, recording scores of 280 and then their best round of the event in the finale. Four Idaho golfers finished inside the top fifteen individually. One golfer led Idaho by placing fifth overall at five-under-par (211), including a final round of three-under (69). Another tied for sixth place at four-under (212) after rebounding from an opening round of 75 with two subpar rounds. A third player tied for ninth at two-under (214), while another finished thirteenth at one-under (215). The fifth member rounded out Idaho’s scoring lineup in twenty-seventh place.
Head coach David Nuhn said, “I am proud of the battle today. I knew we had to apply some pressure at the start of the round, and I felt like we did that, but sometimes it doesn’t materialize in the end.” He continued, “I am grateful to our four seniors and the effort that they have given to our program. I am going to miss the time I’ve spent with them as we’ve traveled, but I know there are great things coming for these guys and I am going to be their biggest fan.”
Sacramento State secured its victory behind performances from Jai Bahl and Gabriel Smith; both players finished nine under par (207), with Smith winning a playoff for Medalist honors.
This result marks Idaho’s best finish since winning the conference championship in 2016. During this season, Idaho won two tournaments during fall competition and earned two runner-up finishes.
