NIPTON, Calif. — Alec Spencer shot a two-round total of 142 to lead the La Verne men's golf team to a seventh place finish at the Las Vegas Desert Classic among top NCAA Division II teams at Primm Valley Golf Club (par-70). The Leopards shot 578 (285-293) as a team.
The field included Division II No. 1 West Florida, No. 6 Missouri-St. Louis, No. 11 Lee and No. 20 Cal Baptist. The Leopards finished behind only those four teams and two other upper division schools, one of which sits just one spot outside the top-25.
Spencer started slowly, shooting a 4-over 74 in the first round. But the San Diego native came back to play his best golf of the spring season in the second round, carding a 2-under 68, to finish tied for 16th overall.
Aaron DiGiamarino, who won claimed the indiviual medal at SCIAC No. 1, anchored the lineup on the first day with 1-under 69. He slowed down a bit in the second round and shot a 6-over-76. He finished tied for 26th.
Hisham Hussein was the most consistent Leopard. The sophomore shot a 1-over 71 in the first round and came into the clubhouse with a 2-over 72 to finish tied for 18th.
Rounding out the scoring was Jason Brown, who shot a 1-over 71 in the first round before shooting 77 in the second.
Austin Matzaganian recorded a two-round score of 153 (76-77).
West Florida took the team title with a total score of 548 (280-268) and the Argonauts' Chandler Blanchet won the individual medal with a score of 132 (66-66).
SCIAC rival Pomona-Pitzer finished 13th (305-297=600).
The Leopards are back in action on March 17-19 at Jekyll Island Collegiate Invitational in Georgia.