By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications

COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene’s Ben Mulder was untouchable and the Simon Fraser men’s golf team was sterling on a stunning Tuesday afternoon at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course, as the 2025 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Men’s Golf Championships came to a close.
 
A one-hour frost delay in the morning was merely a technicality, as action unfolded with a picture perfect backdrop just off Lake Coeur d’Alene. The Nighthawks’ Mulder protected a four-stroke lead after Monday’s action, cruising to victory among the field of 25 players on the par-72, 6,466-yard course. Mulder made his third-consecutive 2-under-par 69 on Tuesday, becoming the first man in school history to claim medalist honors at the GNAC Championships.
 
The Red Leafs earned their fourth team tournament title and second in the last three seasons, posting a three-round score of 859 (301-278-280). SFU was led by co-runners up Denby Carswell and Max Corcoran, who each finished with three-round totals of even-par 213. SFU’s first GNAC title came in 2015, with the next two following in 2018 and 2023. “Coming into this season we had a lot of new faces, and we quickly bonded early in the fall,” said Carswell, the 2024 GNAC Freshman of the Year. “We got into a rhythm, and it carried over into the spring. A lot of people were excited to come here, and it is a great golf course. There are great teams here and great competition, so it was really nice to come away with a win.”
 
SFU’s Brendan O’Brien posted a three-round score of 218 (71-75-72) to take eighth place, and Danny Im tied for ninth with a three-round total of 219 (79-69-71). Completing the field of competitors for the champions was Justin Bjornson, who tied for 13th at 222 (77-73-72). “I’m really proud of our men’s team,” said first-year SFU head coach Krysta Schaus. “They got some really important reps in during the winter months, and as a result of that now they’re here and playing some of their best golf of the year.”
 
Mulder built what proved to be an insurmountable lead with his 4-under-par score on Monday and held pat Tuesday with a nearly flawless third round. The Nighthawk sophomore posted three birdies and just one bogey his third time through the course, finishing with a three-round total of 6-under-par 207 (69-69-69) to win by six strokes.
 
Mulder, a three-time GNAC Player of the Week this year, was unflappable on Tuesday and left several examples of his dominance among the field. Perhaps the best was a view of the approach shots on the monstrous par-4, 460-yard ninth hole on Tuesday which featured two balls in the fairway requiring long irons and a third in the rough parallel to the others. Then there was Mulder – lying two and 40 yards further ahead down the fairway in an indication of supreme confidence. Nothing changed when he made the turn to the front nine, as he closed down the title with an even-par 35 across his final nine holes. Mulder’s 40 pars across the 54 holes were the most among the field and he added 10 birdies throughout the tournament.
 
In addition to Mulder’s effort, Kasey Gaff tied for ninth place with a score of 219 (75-74-70) to help the Nighthawks to a third-place team finish at 880 (294-298-288). Senior Colton Sisk ended in 15th place with a score of 225 (73-78-74).
 
Joining Carswell and Corcoran in a tie for second place was Western Washington’s Nick Ennis, who also finished with an even-par 213 (73-69-71) at his second GNAC Championships tournament. Ennis finished things off with an even-par 71 on Tuesday, making five birdies his third time through the track. WWU freshman Michael Killmer finished in fifth place with a score of 214 (76-70-68), displaying steady improvement across his debut conference tournament appearance. David Sibbett finished in 12th place with a 221 (75-76-70) and Peter Dionne-Yahr was right behind in a tie for 13th with a 222 (77-72-74) to help the Vikings finish in second place.
 
Saint Martin’s finished in fourth place as a team with a three-round total of 884 (302-291-291). Gavin Klein was the Saints’ top performer in sixth place at 215 (70-74-71) and Carter Sheets was right behind with a 216 (78-67-71) with each shooting an even-par on the final day of the tournament. Rasmus Tamker had the team’s top third round, managing a 1-under-par 70 with three birdies on his way to an 11th-place finish overall at 220 (74-76-70).
 
Montana State Billings finished the tournament in fifth place with a three-round team score of 943 (327-313-303). The Yellowjackets’ Hayato Ito was the top team performer, carding a 227 (80-75-72) to take 16th place.