WAIKOLOA, Hawai'i — The trade winds blew in on Tuesday on the Big Island of Hawai'i so the Dominican University of California men's golf team battled to keep from trading birdie and par opportunities for bogeys and double bogeys at the Pacific West Conference Championships.

“It was difficult conditions for our last round, 35 mph winds, but they hung in there,” said Head Coach Gary Nelson. “The team fought through it and hit a lot of good shots.”

Junior Kevin Santos placed 21st in the field, firing a final round 83 on the Kings' Course at the Waikoloa Beach Resort. He sunk a 50-foot birdie putt on the last hole to finish in a tie with Co-PacWest Player of the Year James Hall of defending PacWest champion University of Hawai'i, Hilo, host of the two-day, 54-hole event.

Santos' teammates, freshmanTom Morris and senior Sean Nadir, had the second best round of the day for the Penguins. Both carded an 88, but Nadir finished second overall on the team.
“It was Sean's last tournament and he handled himself like a true champion,” Nelson said. “We are honored to have him on the team for the [past] four years.”

Sophomores Sean Kawaguchi (92) and John DeDonatis (97) helped the Penguins finish 129 strokes ahead of last-place Chaminade University, though Dominican's score in Tuesday's final round was 35 more strokes than its team total in the second round on Monday when playing conditions were more ideal.

“The team was better at the end of the season than at the start,” Nelson said. “Their results in this tournament showed the hard work and dedication they put in during the season.”

Cal Baptist's Steven Watson won medalist honors for the tournament with a closing round 69 for a five-under-par 211. Jon Scolari of BYU-Hawaii, who was medalist following two rounds on Monday, shot a 77 on Tuesday.

Grand Canyon University won the team championship for the fourth time in six years, beating runner-up Dixie State College by 16 strokes.