via Oregon Tech Athletic Communications
WALLA WALLA, Wash. – A record-setting debut for Cayson VanBeekum netted the Oregon Tech freshman medalist honors, helping the Hustlin’ Owls place second at the Walla Walla Invitational.
VanBeekum (65-68-69 – 202) outlasted Walla Walla’s Eddie Tache (69-70-65 – 204) by two strokes after a back-and-forth back nine. The OIT rookie had five birdies over his final nine holes, but saw Tache ace the par-3 14th to pull within a shot, however, VanBeekum strung together birdies on the 15th, 16th and 17th holes to pull away.
The 14-under-par score from VanBeekum established a new OIT 54-hole scoring record, surpassing an 11-under-par (205) from Tyler Franke in 2017.
As a team, the Hustlin’ Owls (278-284-286 – 848) recorded their second-lowest team 54-hole score in program history, finishing just nine strokes behind British Columbia (287-278-274 – 839), while Lewis-Clark State (277-287-291 – 855) was third.
Both senior Jack Tieman (69-74-72 – 215) and freshman Grayson Moore (72-71-74 – 217) had outstanding tournaments for Tech, Tieman placing 12th and Moore in 16th.
Issey Tanimura (79-71-74 – 224), Silas Guzlas (72-84-71 – 227) and Kade Bracken (77-78-76 – 231) rounded out the OIT competitors.
Tech returns to the course in three weeks, hosting the Run-In at the Ranch at the Running Y Resort.
