SALT LAKE, Utah - Two-time Frontier Conference Player of the Year Connor McCracken and newcomer Tyler Johnson both fired 2-under-par 70s during the second 18 to help the Lewis-Clark State College men's golf team grab the first day lead at the first conference tournament of the season on Monday.
The Warriors shot a 36-hole score of 594 on the par-72 Mountain Bell Canyon Golf Course to take a 12-shot lead over defending champion Rocky Mountain. Carroll College is third at 616, followed by Westminster at 623.
The final 18 holes will be played on Tuesday. This is the first of three conference tournaments held in the fall and spring and the team scores from each 54-hole tournament are added together to determine the regular season champion as well as the seeding for the conference tournament, which featues dual matches.
McCracken and Johnson, a junior transfer from Community Colleges of Spokane, helped LCSC to a 1-under-par team score of 277 during the second round, which was 20 strokes better than what the Warriors shot during the morning's opening 18 holes. Teammate Jason Molner matched par in the second round with a 72, while Kyler Gable fired a 75.
Freshman Drew Reinland led the Warriors in the opening round with a 73.
McCracken fired a 75 in the opening round to stand tied for the individual lead at 145 with Mike Noreen of Rocky Mountain.
On the women's side, Westminster is the surprise leader with a 650 total, followed by Rocky Mountain at 664 and LCSC at 697. LCSC golf coach Paul Thompson said he doesn't remember the Westminster women's team ever shooting better than 400 for an 18-hole team score, but easily topped that mark twice during Monday's 36 holes.
The Warriors, hampered by injuries, had three players making their varsity debuts as the tourney. Freshman Brooke Dagner led the way with rounds of 82 and 84 for a 166 total. Thompson said Dagner played particularly well in the second round despite having a 9 on one hole.
Senior Alana Norris had rounds of 89 and 84 for a 173, while Shanna Herman was at 179.
LCSC's varsity five included two sophomore and two freshmen along with Norris.
MEN
Team scores - 1, LCSC 594. 2, Rocky Mountain 606. 3, Carroll 616. 4, Westminster 623. 5, Great Falls 670. 6, Montana Tech 678. Montana Western didnt field a complete team and Montana State-Northern doesn't have men's golf.
LCSC - Connor McCracken 75-70-145, Drew Reinland 73-76-149, Jason Molner 78-72-150, Tyler Johnson 81-70-151, Kyler Gable 81-75-156.
Other LCSC scores - Kyler Nilsson 73-82-155, James Rooney 77-85-162.
WOMEN
Team scores - 1, Westminster 650. 2, Rocky Mountain 664. 3, Lewis-Clark State 697. 4, Carroll 704. 5, Montana Tech 760. 6, Montana State-Northern 818. 7, Great Falls 884. Montana Western didn't field a complete team.
LCSC - Brooke Dagner 82-84-166, Alana Norris 89-84-173, Shanna Herman 92-87-179, Kelsey Haycock 89-95-184, Idah Whisenant 98-90-188.
Other LCSC scores - Jennifer Sorensen 92-93-185, Jordan Knapp 94-92-186, Kelsey Dutton 101-98-199.
