DELTASPORTS BeachGrovegolfergets hisfirstNCAAvictory

MARK BOOTH mbooth@delta-optimist com

A sizzling final round has earned a former Beach Grove Golf Club junior standout his first-ever NCAA tournament victory

University of Gonzaga junior Jace

Minni captured Seattle University’s Redhawk Invitational, held at the Chambers Bay Golf Course, site of the 2015 U.S. Open. The South Delta Secondary graduate closed out the 54-hole event on April 4 with a six-under 65, matching the lowest round in the Bulldogs’ program history

Minni was four shots better than Idaho’s Colt Sherrell and one of just four players in the 95-player field to break par in the 54-hole tournament that featured 19 teams. He opened with a 2-under 69 then shot an even par 71 to set the stage for his final round.

Minni is the first Bulldog to win an event since Sean Walsh took medalist honors at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate in 2016

It was his second big win south of the border, having captured the 101st Washington State Amateur last July

There were some familiar faces on hand to help to celebrate his win with John Morrow (Seattle University) and Russell Howlett (Cal State Fullerton) also participated in the tournament for their respective schools Both are former SDSS teammates and came through Beach Grove’s junior program

Morrow finished 23rd, highlighted by a final round 68, while Howlett finished 28th Both took their careers to the NCAA level after transferring from UVic and UBC respectively after impressive starts

Beach Grove Golf Club junior alumni and South Delta Secondary graduate Jace Minni captured his first NCAA tournament title at the University of Seattle Redhawk Invitational at the Chambers Bay Golf Course last week. The Gonzaga University junior won by four shots.