ANACONDA, Mont. - Connor McCracken overcame miserable weather and playing conditions to shoot a 5-under-par 67 to help the Lewis-Clark State College men's golf team take the first round lead at the final Frontier Conference Tournament of the regular season.
McCracken's solid round came Sunday at the par-72 Fairmont Hot Springs Golf Course. The tournament was supposed to be a 54-hole event with 36 holes on Sunday, but frost on the course delayed tee times for a couple of hours Sunday and allowed only 18 holes to be played. The final 18 will be held on Monday.
Also on Sunday, the high temperature was only in the mid 40s. To make conditions even tougher, the course only opened on Friday and the greens have not been mowed since last fall.
Despite the weather and conditions, McCracken, a senior from Eagle, Idaho, has a solid day and shot the best round by three strokes. Only three players broke par on Sunday.
McCracken's 67 helped LCSC to a team score of 295 and that much closer to wrapping up the regular season title and the top seed in the conference tournament later this month. Carroll College is second at 297, while Rocky Mountain is at 309.
The regular season champion is determined by the combined team score of the three conference tournaments during the season. The first two tournaments were held in the fall. Combining all scores, LCSC has a 45-shot lead over Carroll entering the final 18 holes.
On the women's side, the Warriors stand third entering Monday's play. Westminster shot a 313 on Sunday, followed by Rocky Mountain at 331 and LCSC at 336.
Idah Whisenant led the Warriors with an 80 while Brooke Dagner had an 84.
LCSC coach Paul Thompson said weather could play a factor again on Monday as snow was expected overnight.
MEN
Team scores - 1, LCSC 295. 2, Carroll 297. 3, Rocky Mountain 309.
Overall low score - Connor McCracken, LCSC, 67.
Other LCSC scores - Jason Molner 75, Kyler Gable 75, Drew Reinland 78, Tyler Johnson 79.
Non-counting LCSC scores - James Rooney 76, Ben House 77, Brad Tracy 77.
WOMEN
Team scores - 1, Westminster 313. 2, Rocky Mountain 331. 3, LCSC 336.
Overall low score - Janteel Jackson, Westminster, 75.
LCSC scores - Idah Whisenant 80, Brooke Dagner 84, Alana Norris 85, Kelsey Haycock 87, Shanna Herman 95.
