SPOKANE, Wash. – The Gonzaga men's golf team returns to the Ka'anapali Classic Collegiate for the fifth straight season in Lahaina, Hawaii. The fifth annual 54-hole tournament at the Ka'anapali Golf Club begins Friday and runs through Sunday.
The par-71 Royal Ka'anapali Course plays 6,700 yards. The tournament-tested layout hosted the Champions Tour Ka'anapali Classic for 14 years, Shell's Wonderful World of Golf, the Canada Cup and LPGA Kemper Open, welcoming Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper, Greg Norman, Fred Couples, Jan Stephenson, Betsy King and other legends.
This year's field includes 21 teams; Gonzaga, Hawaii, Clemson, Washington, Connecticut, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Wyoming, Sacramento State, Georgia, Kansas, Southern Illinois, Air Force, California, West Virginia, Houston, George Washington, North Florida, UCLA and Boise State.
Last year, California's K.K. Limbhasut climbed three spots on the leaderboard after a 66 (-5) in the final round to take medalist honors. He was 12-under (201) and edged South Carolina's Scott Stevens by one stroke for the tournament title. Andy Spencer of Kansas was third at 10-under (203). Twelfth-ranked LSU won the team title at 31-under (821). The Tigers beat out No. 40 South Carolina (-24, 828) and No. 15 Cal (-23, 829).
The Zags moved from 16th to 11th in the third and final round of last year's tournament. Gonzaga totaled a 285 (+1) in Round 3, the team's lowest round total of the fall. The Bulldogs finished 20-over (872).
In the final round of the Zags' fall schedule,
David Ganz carded a 70 (-1) and climbed 27 spots on the leaderboard. He finished in a tie for 41st at four-over (217). He birdied four of his first six holes in the third round, and ended with 12 birdies in the three-day tournament.
Chris Mogg and
Matthew Ruel both tied for 29th at the Bill Cullum Invitational on Oct. 16. Mogg and Ruel both finished the tournament at three-over (219). The Bulldogs were two-over (290) in Round 3. GU finished 19-over (883) in ninth place.
The tournament begins at 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time Friday. Live scoring via Golfstat will be available on GoZags.com.
Gonzaga's lineup
Holden Backes
Chris Mogg
Grant Johnson
Charlie Magruder
Matt Ruel
