Fort Lewis College Athletics

Western New Mexico Athletics

Jake Chesler tees off with four iron during a practice round at Palm Valley Golf Club (Apr. 5, 2026)

Men’s golf off to strong start at Palm Valley

4/6/2026 7:57:00 PM

By: Hayden Mangan, Assistant AD-Communications & Fan Engagement

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – With three individual Skyhawks hunting for a top 25 finish, the Fort Lewis men's golf team found itself in strong positioning at T-5 among 20 teams following the first 36 holes of the Ruidoso Junior Golf Association Palm Valley Classic over in the desert.

After reeling off a 283 (-5) in its first 18 holes around the 7,035-yard, par-72 North and South Courses at Palm Valley Golf Club, Fort Lewis combined to cut down a pair of strokes and score a 281 (-7) in round two to match No. 24/14-ranked Colorado Mesa University in T-5 at 564 (-12). The Skyhawks trail T-3 Cameron University and California State University San Bernardino by three strokes at 561 (-15) overall, and tournament leader No. 39/RV California State University Chico by 13 strokes after a dominant 551 (-25) from the Wildcats.

Redshirt junior Traejan Andrews paced Fort Lewis, knocking down nine birdies while making just two bogeys on the afternoon, putting the Greeley, Colo., native in a nine-way tie for sixth on the back of a 137 (-7). Andrews' first-round 67 (-5) is his lowest single-round score of the year and the second-lowest of his career. Colorado State University Pueblo's Marius Dosiere leads the field by three strokes after scoring a 133 (-11), thanks to a tournament-best 64 in round one.

Seniors Jordan Jennings and Ian Henderson found themselves in prime positioning for a top 25 finish, as the pair carded identical 141s (-3) to sit in a 12-way tie for 23^rd. Jennings bested Henderson with a 69 (-3) in round one against Henderson's 70 (-2), with both individuals registering 10 birdies each.

Freshman Chase Rogers rounds out the four Skyhawks contributing to the team's overall score, sitting in T-57 with eight birdies and a 145 (+1) total. Davis Johnson, competing as an unattached individual, sits closely behind in T-75 after shooting a 148 (+4). Jake Chesler found himself in T-96 on a 151 (+7), but the senior built momentum with four birdies in his second round to two in his first.

Up Next
One final 18-hole round awaits the Skyhawks around Palm Valley Golf Club tomorrow, Tuesday, Apr. 7.

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