By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – Shooting the second-lowest single-round team score in Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships history on Monday at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course, Western Washington’s men’s team stormed to the top of the leaderboard in the opening round of the 2026 GNAC Men’s Golf Championships.
 
The Vikings shot a combined 10-under-par 274 on the par-71, 6,466-yard course layout, one off the championship tournament record set by WWU in 2024. On a picture-perfect day with no wind and temperatures reaching the low-70s, the Vikings had three players finish under par as they built their early advantage at the three-round conference championship. Saint Martin’s finished the day six strokes back, shooting a solid 4-under-par 280 on Monday.
 
Senior Peter Dionne-Yahr and junior Christopher Zamani led the Vikings to the top of the team leaderboard, each carding a 5-under-par 66 on Monday. Playing the course for the third time in his career, Dionne-Yahr navigated the links with expert precision making five birdies and no bogeys. The WWU captain started off red hot with back-to-back birdies and never looked back, on his way to a 3-under-par 32 on the front-nine. Dionne-Yahr’s 66 tied his career best, which he set as a junior last season.
 
In his first-ever GNAC Championships round, Zamani was equally impressive as he made a tournament-best seven birdies in the opening round. After posting a 2-under-par 33 on the front-nine, Zamani hit his stride and recorded a 3-under-par 33 with three birdies and no bogeys on the back-nine. It was the best-ever collegiate score for Zamani, whose previous low was a 69 achieved both in 2025 and earlier this season.
 
Another Viking playing the CDA Resort course for the first time was Rex Wilson, who sits in a tie for sixth place after shooting a 1-under-par 70 on Monday. Wilson had a clean front nine with two birdies and no bogeys, getting off to a useful 2-under-par 33 to start his day. Also competing for the Vikings on Monday were Conrad Brown who shot a 1-over-par 72 and Nick Ennis who carded a 3-over-par 74.
 
The Saints’ solid opening-round team score was fueled by first-time tournament participant Parker Sawatzky, who finished the day third on the leaderboard with a 3-under-par 68. Sawatzky matched Zamani with seven birdies on Monday, five of which came amid a 3-under-par 32 on the front-nine. Sawatzky also finished his opening round on fire, making birdies on both the 17th and 18th holes on his way back to the clubhouse. It was a season-best score for the sophomore, whose previous mark in 2025-26 was a 70.
 
Playing the championship course for the second time in his career, junior Rasmus Tamker was also outstanding on Monday with a 2-under-par 69. Tamker spread four birdies throughout his round, which offset a pair of bogeys on an otherwise-clean scorecard. In his first year in a Saints uniform in 2025, Tamker finished in 11th place at the GNAC Championships.
 
SMU also relied on the veteran savvy of senior Carter Sheets, who walked off the 18th green with a 1-under-par 70 on Monday. Entering the event having played nine previous championship rounds at the CDA Resort, Sheets posted his second-best score in Coeur d’Alene behind only last year’s 4-under-par 67 in the second round.
 
Montana State Billings is third on the team leaderboard after the first round, as the Yellowjackets posted a 4-over-par 288 on the opening day of the tournament. Sophomore Pete Netrnilweerachot made the most of the sunny conditions, leading his team with a 2-under-par 69 to tie Tamker for fourth on the individual leaderboard. The second-year Yellowjacket finished the round 4-under-par across his final eight holes, on his way to a 3-under-par 33 on the back-nine.
 
Sitting one stroke behind MSUB in fourth place with a 289 is Northwest Nazarene. The Nighthawks were led by senior Dylan Christensen, who posted a 1-under-par 70 and sits in sixth place on the leaderboard. Junior Kasey Gaff showed stellar improvement at the turn, following a 3-over-par 38 with a 3-under-par 33 to close his round in 10th place with an even-par 71. NNU’s Noah Larson had one of two eagles by the field on Monday, starting his tournament with a bang by making a 3 on the par-5, 520-yard opening hole.
 
Simon Fraser followed the closely-packed group of three teams to round out the leaderboard, finishing the day one stroke behind NNU at 290 for fifth place. The Red Leafs relied on a 1-under-par 70 from Justin Bjornson, which featured three birdies overall and nine consecutive pars on the back-nine to put him in a tie for sixth place. Junior Denby Carswell also had a strong showing Monday, posting an even-par 71 with five birdies. SFU’s Brendan O’Brien had the day’s other eagle, also saving a pair of strokes with three stellar shots on the opening hole.
 
The tournament continues on Tuesday morning with the men teeing off of Hole 1 at 7:30 a.m. (Pacific). Live results and Tuesday tee times can be found online here.