LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. – The Chaminade University men's golf team ended the season Wednesday with an eighth-place finish at the Pacific West Conference Championships at the par-72 Wigwam Gold Golf Course.
The Silverswords shot 319 in the final 18 holes for a three-day total of 936, finishing 25 shots behind seventh-place Notre Dame de Namur.
Desmond Mello (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/University of Hawai'i-Manoa/Moanalua HS), who was just two shots behind the lead at even-par after two rounds, struggled with a final round 6-over 78. He bogeyed half of his final 12 holes including three straight to finish the back-nine, derailing his chances for the conference's individual title.
Despite dropping out of contention, Mello's 6-over 222 was good enough to tie him for 11th overall, just missing out on all-tournament team honors which goes to the top 10 finishers. It was also his best 54-hole tournament this season.
Jeren Nishimoto (Honolulu/Kaiser) also carded a final-round 6-over, giving him a 17-over 233 in the tournament. After a difficult front-nine which included two bogeys, a double- and triple-bogey, he rebounded in the final nine with a pair of birdies.
Colby Gunderson (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Castle) finished with a 237 after a third-round score of 84.
Patrick Tran (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Capistrano Connections Academy) carded his first sub-80 round of the championships with a final round 79 for a total of 244.
Curtis Coburn (Huntington Beach, Calif./Huntington Beach) finished with a 328 after shooting 114 in the third round.
