Championship Season Preview: Golf

DURANGO, Colo. – With a trio of individual medalists through the fall season, both Fort Lewis' men's and women's golf teams will look to make strides through spring competition for a strong push at the 2025 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships.

Historic Fall

Fort Lewis began its 2024-25 campaigns in the fall, with the men's and women's teams competing in five and four tournaments, respectively. 

The Skyhawks men earned their highest finish at the Ruidoso Junior Golf Association South Central Shootout, taking third place among nine teams from its home region. FLC posted a 291 (+3) score in round one before improving to 286 (-2) in round two and falling to 298 (+10) in the final round. In the end, Fort Lewis totaled an 875 (+11) to finish four strokes back from the tournament winner. The biggest story of the Skyhawks appearance at the Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero, New Mexico, however, was Traejan Andrews and his historic outing to capture his first collegiate medalist honor and the first by any Skyhawk since 2011. Andrews medaled outright with a three-stroke advantage on a 211 (-5). 

It was only the beginning, however, as in the men's final appearance of the fall at The Hrnciar, hosted by Cameron University at The Territory Golf Club in Duncan, Oklahoma, Tyler Tyson brought home the Skyhawks second individual medalist of the year. Tyson was balanced in all three rounds, twice finishing with par en route to his 215 (+1) total. Most impressively was Tyson's resilience to battle through a three-way tie for first place and ultimately a three-hole playoff. In sudden death, Tyson posted par and bogey to capture his first collegiate medalist honor. 

The Skyhawks women closed out the fall in similar fashion, earning its best team finish of the season thus far, taking third place among six teams in its own Nick Turner Invitational at Hillcrest Golf Club in Durango. As a team, Fort Lewis finished with a 632 (+56) team score to finish seven strokes behind the tournament winner. History continued, however, as Cortez, Colorado, native Dimery Plewe captured just the second-ever women's medalist honor in program history. Backed by the comforts of her home course, Plewe fired off for a 145 (+1) total through two rounds to win the tournament by three strokes. Plewe's win resulted in being named the RMAC Women's Golfer of the Week on Oct. 17.

The Schedule

Three tournaments await the Skyhawks men before making a push to the postseason. First is the Battle in the Desert, hosted by Cal State San Bernardino at Rams Hill Golf Club in Borrego Springs, California this Monday through Wednesday, Feb. 24-26. The tournament will feature a daunting field that includes No. 9 Georgia Southwestern State, No. 20 Cal State Monterey Bay, No. 22 Sonoma State, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Lubbock Christian, Vanguard (Calif.), Cal State Stanislaus, Cal State San Bernardino, and UT Tyler and Western New Mexico who are both receiving votes on the Bushnell/Golfweek Division II Coaches Poll. The Skyhawks will then take on the Hot Dirt Desert Shootout, co-hosted by (RV) Colorado School of Mines and No. 1 Colorado Christian at the Golf Club of Estrella in Goodyear, Ariz., on Mar. 21-25, before taking on the RJGA Palm Valley Classic at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Ariz., on Apr. 7-8. 

The Fort Lewis women will compete in five tournaments this spring before heading into the RMAC Championships. Up first is the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout, hosted by Cal State East Bay, at Corica Park Golf Course in Alameda, Calif., this Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 24-25. The Skyhawks will take on a challenging field including No. 6 Cal State San Marcos, No. 22 Simon Fraser, (RV) Cal State Los Angeles, Hawaii Pacific, Cal State Monterey Bay, Western Washington, Jessup, Biola, Northwest Nazarene, Sonoma State, Saint Martin's, Academy of Art, Point Loma, Dominican (Calif.), CSU Pueblo, Chico State, and Cal State East Bay. Fort Lewis will close out the regular season at the SMSU Challenge, hosted by Southwest Minnesota State at Wigwam Golf Club in Litchfield Park, Ariz., from Mar. 13-14, before the Southern Colorado Open, hosted by CSU Pueblo, at Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo, Colo., from Mar. 23-24, then the Ruidoso Junior Golf Association Palm Valley Classic at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Ariz., from Apr. 4-5, and lastly the Maverick Challenge, hosted by Colorado Mesa, at The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa in Grand Junction, Colo., on Apr. 12-13. 

RMAC Championships

The 2024-25 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships are set to span three days, Sunday through Tuesday, Apr. 20-22, at the familiar Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada. This spring will mark the third consecutive year that the league's championships will be held at Boulder Creek.

Last season, the Skyhawks men registered a fourth-place finish among eight teams, carding an 864 (Par) score as a team backed by single-round scores of 278 (-10), 294 (+6), and 292 (+4). Ronald Kildall III led Fort Lewis, taking a tie for sixth place on the individual leaderboard and finishing four strokes below par with a 212 total. Jordan Jennings also captured a tie for 12th-place and finished one below par with a 215. 

On the women's side, Fort Lewis took ninth place among the league's eleven teams. As a unit, the Skyhawks shot 977 (+113) with single-round scores of 309 (+21), 328 (+40), and 340 (+52). Isabel Bustillos and Vivianna Holguin posted the top-two finishes among returning players with ties for 34th and 37th, respectively. Bustillos edged Holguin with a 243 (+27) to 246 (+30).

Women's Golf Roster

Total Players: 8 | Freshmen: 2 | Sophomore: 3 | Junior: 1 | Senior: 2

Returners: 7 | Transfers: 1

Elina Beyer (Freshmen, Scottsdale, Ariz. / Saguaro High School)

Was a four-year letterwinner on the Sabercats' girls' golf team... was a Sports360AZ First-Team All-Academic honoree. 

Isabel Bustillos (Sophomore, Roswell, N.M. / Goddard High School)

2023-24 (Freshmen)
Bustillos made five appearances for the Skyhawks in her freshman campaign including an appearance at the RMAC Championships... opened her career with a 61st-place finish at the Nick Turner Invitational at the Arroyo del Oso Golf Course in Albuquerque, N.M., (Oct. 16-17) with a 180 (+36)... took a career-best tie for 34th in her first appearance at the RMAC Championships at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev., (Apr. 21-23) with a 243 total (+27)... posted a single-round average score of 88.17 for the season... made two top-70 finishes alongside her lone top-50 finish. 

Before FLC
Bustillos was a four-year letterwinner at Goddard High School... took first place at the 2022 RISD Golf Invitational Tournament... placed fifth at the 2022 NMAA State Championship... earned a Certificate of Academic Excellence all four years. 

Peyton Gibby (Freshmen, Gilbert, Ariz. / Campo Verde High School)
Was a four-time state qualifier and varsity letterwinner on the Coyotes girls' golf team... also a four-year letterwinner on the Coyotes girls' soccer team that captured the 2021 5A State Championship and finished as the 5A State Runners-Up in 2024. 

Sarah Grenemyer (Sophomore, Albuquerque, N.M. / La Cueva High School)

2023-24 (Freshman) 
Grenemyer enjoyed a quality freshmen campaign that featured seven tournament appearances... made her collegiate debut at the Swan Memorial at The Broadlands Country Club in Broomfield, Colo., (Sep. 8-9) and took a tie for 71st with a 259 (+43) score... took a career-best tie for 38th at the Farmers Insurance Sam Proal Invitational at the Pueblo Country Club in Pueblo, Colo., (Oct. 9-10) with a 167 (+23) total... posted an 83.7 per-round average score for the year... made three finishes within the top-50 and one withing the top-70. 

Before FLC
Lettered in golf and swimming all four years at La Cueva High School... earned New Mexico Academic All-District honors in swimming and golf... captained both the swimming and golf teams... owns a career-low of 150 (75, 75) at the Santa Fe Country Club. 

Annika Gutierrez (Sophomore, Peoria, Ariz. / Liberty High School)

2023-24 (Freshman)
Gutierrez made two top-70 finishes across her five tournament appearances for the Skyhawks... began her collegiate career with a 79th-place finish at the Farmers Insurance Sam Proal Invitational at the Pueblo Country Club in Pueblo, Colo., (Oct. 9-10) with a 198 (+54) two-round score... took a career-best tie for 61st in her final tournament of the spring at the Southern Colorado Open at Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo, Colo., (Mar. 24) with a 170 (+26) total... posted back-to-back single-round career-bests of 85 at the Southern Colorado Open... improved from a 95.3 per-round average in the fall to a 93.3 per-round average in the spring. 

Before FLC
Gutierrez played four varsity seasons at Liberty High School... earned the Liberty Buick Outstanding Student of the Month.

Vivianna Holguin (Senior, Gold Canyon, Ariz. / Desert Ridge High School / Mesa Community College)

2023-24 (Junior)
CSC Academic All-District
Holguin played in eight of the Skyhawks' nine tournaments across the year... took a career-best tie for 37th in her first appearance at the RMAC Championships with a 246 (+30) at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev. (Apr. 21-23)... posted a single-round score of 77 (+5) on three occasions including the RMAC Championships... had an average score of 82.89 per-round for the season.

Before FLC
Holguin played two seasons at Mesa Community College... earned First Team All-Region and All-Conference honors with the Thunderbirds... posted a career two-day-best of 149 (77, 72)... was a four-year letter winner at Desert Ridge High School.

Sabrina Ladd (Senior, Coronado, Calif. / Coronado High School / MiraCosta College / Saddleback College)

2023-24 (Junior)
Ladd made seven appearances for Fort Lewis in her first season with the program... posted an average single-round score of 85.0 for the season... placed a career-best 41st at her first RMAC Championships with a 252 (+36) total at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev. (Apr. 21-23)... recorded a single-round best of 74 (+2) in her second trip through the Arroyo del Oso Golf Course in Albuquerque, N.M., at the Nick Turner Invitational (Oct. 16-17).

Before FLC
Ladd most recently spent one season with Saddleback College... earned All-Conference honors at Saddleback... also a member of the Dean's Academic List.

Dimery Plewe (Junior, Cortez, Colo. / Montezuma-Cortez High School / Idaho State University)

2024-25 (Junior)
Won the Nick Turner Invitational at Hillcrest Golf Course (Durango, CO) (74, 71 - 145, +1) (10/14-15/2024)
RMAC Women's Golfer of the Week (Oct. 17)

Before FLC
Previously attended Idaho State University for two years... was a four-year letterwinner in girls' golf and basketball at Montezuma-Cortez High School.

Men's Golf Roster

Total Players: 11 | Freshmen: 1 | Sophomore: 1 | Junior: 4 | Senior: 5

Returners: 9 | Transfers: 1

Max Fisher (Freshmen, Phoenix, Ariz. / Horizon Honors High School)

Fisher was a four-year standout and member of the Eagles' boys' golf team... tabbed as an Arizona All-Academic Team selection... posted the lowest scoring average on the varsity squad as a senior.

Traejan Andrews (Junior, Greeley, Colo. / North Ridge High School)

2024-25 (Junior)
Won the RJGA South Central Shootout at the Inn of the Mountain Gods (Mescalero, NM) (69, 70, 72 - 211, -5) (09/30-10/01/2024)

2023-24 (Sophomore) 
Did not make any tournament appearances for the Skyhawks.

2022-23 (Freshman) 
Appeared in seven of the Skyhawks 12 total tournaments across the year... owned a 75.21 stroke average across the season... made four top-20 finishes including a season's-best T-4th at The Writz at Mile High at Bear Creek Golf Course (Sept. 12-13) finishing three strokes under par (74, 67, 72 - 213)... also shot his single-round best of 67 at Bear Creek Golf Course. 

Jake Chesler (Junior, Firestone, Colo. / Frederick High School / University of Colorado Colorado Springs)

2023-24 (Sophomore) 
Enjoyed a quality sophomore season and made 10 tournament appearances in his first year at Fort Lewis... posted a 75.21 per-round average score for the season... recorded a career-low 71 (-1) single-round score at Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo, Colo., during the Farmers Insurance Sam Proal Invitational (Sep. 18-19)... took a career-best 26th at the Centennial Cup (Oct. 9-10) with a one-over-par 217 at the Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster, Colo... placed an impressive 28th as an individual in his first appearance at the RMAC Championships (Apr. 21-23) after shooting a 227 (+11) at a challenging Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev. 

Before FLC
Chesler spent one season at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs before the men's golf program was discontinued... made his collegiate debut for the Mountain Lions at the Las Vegas Desert Classic (Mar. 5-7) at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev., and took a tie for 96th with a 251 (+35) total... before attending UCCS, Chesler was a four-year letterwinner on the Frederick High School golf team as well as a one-year member of the baseball and basketball teams... four-time First Team All-State and First Team All-Conference honoree... BOCO Preps Player of the Year award winner... holds the school record for scoring average and lowest individual round... twice named Team Captain. 

Benjamin Harding (Sophomore, Longmont, Colo. / Silver Creek High School)

2023-24 (Freshmen)
Made his collegiate debut for the Skyhawks at The Writz at Mile High at Bear Creek Golf Course (Sep. 11-12)... posted a single-round best 77 (+5) in his second round... took a tie for 55th in his inaugural tournament with a 245 (+29) total... had an average single-round score of 81.67. 

Before FLC
Harding was a four-year letterwinner and 13-time tournament winner at Silver Creek High School... four-time All-State and Academic All-State honoree... thrice named Team Captain... posted a single-round lowest score of 67 on four occasions. 

Ian Henderson (Junior, Louisville, Colo. / Monarch High School)

2023-24 (Sophomore)
Played in two tournaments for the Skyhawks... shaved off over three strokes from his freshmen campaign to average a 79.17 per round score... placed a season's best tie for 46th at the Southern Colorado Masters (Apr. 15-16) at the Pueblo Country Club in Pueblo, Colo., with a 233 (+20) total... recorded a career-low 76 (+4) single round score at Bear Creek Golf Club in Lakewood, Colo., at The Writz at Mile High (Sep. 11-12). 

2022-23 (Freshman)
Joined the Skyhawks at the start of the spring semester in January of 2023... made just one appearance for FLC through the spring... finished T-32 at the Ruidoso Junior Golf Association Cactus Thaw! at Painted Dunes Golf Course in El Paso, Texas, finished 22 strokes above par (79, 87 - 166). 

Before FLC
Henderson was a four-year letterwinner at Monarch High School... named a Team Captain as a junior and senior... First Team All Front Range Conference... two-time Second Team All Front Range Conference.

Jordan Jennings (Redshirt Junior, Montrose, Colo. / Montrose High School / Colorado State University)

2023-24 (Redshirt Sophomore) 
CSC Academic All-District
Boasted an impressive first season with the Skyhawks as Jennings competed in eight of Fort Lewis' 10 tournaments including the conference championships... began his career in the Blue and Gold with a career-best tie for sixth at The Writz at Mile High (Sep. 11-12) at Bear Creek Golf Course in Lakewood, Colo... made two top-10 finishes and totaled six finishes within the top-50... finished under par twice... recorded his career-best single-round low of 69 (-3) and a three-round score of 211 (-5) at the Centennial Cup (Oct. 9-10) at the Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster, Colo... took an impressive tie for 12th with a one-under 215 total in his first RMAC Championships (Apr. 21-23) at the Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev. 

Before FLC
Played two seasons at Colorado State University... utilized a redshirt in 2021-22 to retain a year of eligibility... made three tournament appearances for the Rams... had a 78.11 stroke average... posted two rounds of par or better... posted a career-best one-under 71 at the Gene Miranda Falcon Individual Tournament (Sep. 9-11) hosted by Air Force at Eisenhower Blue Golf Course... was a two-time Western Colorado Junior Champion in 2019 and 2020... lettered in basketball all four years at Montrose High School while earning All-Conference honors in 2019 and 2020... led Montrose in scoring in nine of ten tournaments including two medalist honors... named the 2020 CHSAA Individual Champion and Player of the Year while guiding Montrose to a third-place finish at the state tournament. 
 

Davis Johnson (Senior, Los Alamos, N.M. / Los Alamos High School / Central New Mexico Community College)

2023-24 (Junior)
Played in one tournament for the Skyhawks... took a tie for 66th at the RJGA South Central Shootout (Sep. 25-26) with a 242 (+26) total at the Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero, N.M... shot a career-low 78 (+4) in the tournament... shaved off seven strokes from his sophomore year to an 80.67 per round average score. 

2022-23 (Sophomore)
Transferred to Fort Lewis at the start of the spring semester in January of 2023... made just one appearance and his collegiate debut for the Skyhawks taking 36th at the Ruidoso Junior Golf Association Cactus Thaw! (Feb. 13-14) at Painted Dunes Golf Course in El Paso, Texas, after finishing 30 strokes above par (80, 94 - 174).

Before FLC
Johnson previously attended Central New Mexico Community College for one year.

Carson Kerr (Senior, Grand Junction, Colo. / Grand Junction High School)

2023-24 (Junior) 
Made seven tournament appearances for the Skyhawks... improved by nearly two strokes to a 75.1 average single-round score for the season... made four top-20 finishes... matched his career-low single-round score of 68 en route to also notching his first collegiate par-or-better finish at the Centennial Cup (Oct. 9-10) at the Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster, Colo. on a 216 (E) total... captured a career-best tie for 17th on a 219 (+3) total at the Farmers Insurance Sam Proal Invitational (Sep. 18-19) at Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo, Colo... finished at or below pa

2022-23 (Sophomore)
Competed in nine of the Skyhawks 12 total tournaments... averaged 76.96 strokes per round across the year... took a season's-best T-22nd at the Jack Brown Memorial Invitational (Feb. 6-7) at the Laredo Country Club in Laredo, Texas, finishing 11 strokes above par (79, 76 - 115)... made his first appearance at the RMAC Championships (Apr. 23-25) at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nevada, finishing T-41st after shooting 20 strokes above par (80, 77, 79 - 236)... matched his career-low single-round score of 71 at the Ryan Palmer Foundation Invitational (Oct. 3-4) at the Amarillo Country Club. 

2021-22 (Freshman)
Appeared in four of Fort Lewis' nine total tournaments... averaged 76.36 strokes per round... took a career-best T-19th finish at the Ruidoso Junior Golf Association Cactus Thaw! (Feb. 7-8) at Painted Dunes Golf Course in El Paso, Texas, shooting 71 and 76 to post a final score of 147... also posted a career-best single-round low of 71 at the RJGA Cactus Thaw!

Ronald Kildall III (Senior, Everett, Wash. / Everett High School)

2023-24 (Junior)
NCAA West South Central Super Regional Individual Qualifier
Second-Team All-RMAC
CSC Academic All-District
RMAC Academic Honor Roll
Competed in eight of the Skyhawks' nine tournaments through the regular season, made his third consecutive RMAC Championships, and earned Fort Lewis' first individual qualifier to the NCAA West South-Central Super Regional since 2020-21... captured 103rd in his first appearance at the NCAA Super Regional (May 9-11) with a 32-over 245 at the New Mexico State University Golf Course in Las Cruces, N.M... closed out the regular season with an impressive run that saw a second-place finish at the RJGA Palm Valley Classic and back-to-back ties for sixth place at the Southern Colorado Masters and RMAC Championships... posted a career-low 65 (-7) in the opening round of the RMAC Championships at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev. (Apr. 21-23)... improved to a 73.45 per-round average for the year... finished in the top-50 or better in eight of nine tournament appearances. 

2022-23 (Sophomore)
All-RMAC Academic Honor Roll
Enjoyed a quality sophomore year appearing in nine of the Skyhawks 12 tournaments... notched a career-best even par at the RMAC Championships on Apr. 23-25 at Boulder Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas, Nev., shooting single-round scores of 73, 71, and 72 (216)... improved from his freshman season to average a score of 75.72 per round... captured his first All-RMAC Academic Honor Roll honor.

2021-22 (Freshman)
Competed in eight of Fort Lewis' nine total tournaments as a true freshman... impressed at the Ruidoso Junior Golf Association Palm Valley Classic at Palm Valley Golf Club from Apr. 4-5 finishing three strokes above par with single-round scores of 74, 69, 76... his second-round score of 69 at Palm Valley marks a career-low... averaged a single-round score of 75.82.

Jackson Rottschafer (Senior, Centennial, Colo. / Arapahoe High School / Northeastern Junior College)

2023-24 (Junior)
Made his Fort Lewis debut in the spring of 2024 and competed in five of the Skyhawks' six spring tournaments including the conference championships... owned a 76.21 average single-round score... captured two top-50 finishes... took home a career-best tie for 24th at the RMAC Championships (Apr. 21-23) with a 222 (+6) at a challenging Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev... shot a career-low 219 (+3) across three rounds at the RJGA Palm Valley Classic (Apr. 8-9) at the Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Ariz., including a career-best single-round score of 68 (-4) in his final trip through the course. 

Before FLC
Played two seasons at Northeastern Junior College... won two Region IX Tournaments in the spring of 2023... took 15th with a one-under-par (287) finish at the NJCAA National Golf Tournament at Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton, Kan., capturing Second-Team All-American honors: the first in program history for NJC... in high school at Arapahoe, Rottschafer finished a career-best -6 to win a tournament while also recording an albatross... also competed in swimming.

Tyler Tyson (Senior, Arvada, Colo. / Arvada High School / Colorado State University Pueblo / Regis University)

2024-25 (Senior)
Won The Hrnciar at The Territory Golf Club (Duncan, OK) (73, 72, 73 - 217, +1; T-1st; Won 3-Hole Playoff) (10/21-22/2024)

Before FLC
Tyson comes to Durango after a one-year stint at Regis University following the program's closure after spending two seasons at Colorado State University Pueblo to begin his collegiate career... competed in four tournaments for the Rangers and posted a 77.5 per-round average... finished a career-best T-4th after shooting a nine-over 219 at the Saddlebrook Spring Kickoff (Mar. 7-9) at the Saddlebrook Golf Course in Wesley Chapel, Florida... played in nine events over the span of his two seasons competing for the ThunderWolves... improved from an 80.38 per-round average in 2021-22 to a 75.94 per-round average in 2022-23... captured ninth-place at the Farmers Insurance Sam Proal Invitational with a career-low 212 (+4) total that also featured his single-round-career-low of 69 (-3)... was a four-year letterwinner at Arvada West High School... was a four-time All-Conference honoree in Jefferson County... also a three-time All-Conference Academic award winner... owns the Arvada West High School program record with a single-round low of 63... finished as the Colorado Matchplay Runner-Up.

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