BURNABY, B.C. – Jordan Bean shot a 5-under-par 67 Tuesday to lead the Simon Fraser men's golf team in the final round of the Hanny Stanislaus Invitational in Turlock, California. His performance helped the Red Leafs jump seven spots on the last day to place second in the final team standings.
 
Sixteen teams competed at the 54-hole tournament, which was played at the Turlock Golf & Country Club (par-72, 6,668 yards). SFU completed the event with a collective score of 17-over 881. The team recorded rounds of 294 and 298 on Monday before rebounding with a 1-over 289, which was the best score of the day by nine shots. The Red Leafs were 10 strokes out of the top spot, which was claimed by Western Washington at 871 (278-295-298).
 
"Our goal coming in this week was a top two finish," said SFU head coach Matthew Steinbach. "We knew this would likely secure our spot in regionals. It was a tough battle but happy we could post another top finish.
 
"All five guys contributed this week and it was a total team effort. It was a firm and fast golf course and very penalizing if you were off by just a bit. Jordan's 67 was low round of the day by three strokes and provided the bounce back we needed."
 
Seniors Bean (Canmore, Alta.) and Aidan Goodfellow (Parksville, B.C.) were the top Red Leafs over the two days of play, which was completed with both tying for 12th at 4-over 220.
 
Bean signed for rounds of 73, 80, and 67. His 67 Tuesday included a half-dozen birdies and an eagle, which came on a hole out from 146 yards on No. 17 (his eighth hole of the day). Bean closed out the tournament with three consecutive birdies.
 
Historically, Bean's 67 is the best of his NCAA career and is tied for the 11th-lowest round by an SFU men's golfer since the 1993-94 season. It is also tied for the eighth-best round vs. par in that same time span.
 
Goodfellow fired rounds of 74-73-73, recording 10 birdies and 32 pars. Six of his birdies came on Tuesday. His 3.00 par-3 scoring average was second-best in the 96-person field.
 
Ryan Hodgins of Medicine Hat, Alta., had his best individual finish of the season as he tied for 20th. The sophomore completed the tournament in 223 shots (76-72-75) and was 7-over. Hodgins recorded nine birdies and 30 pars.
 
Junior Michael Crisologo (Richmond, B.C.) tied for 33rd at 9-over 225 (72-74-79). His 74 to wrap up play on Monday included two eagles, both on par-5s. For the tournament, he had two eagles, four birdies and 34 pars.
 
Bailey Bjornson was one of eight competitors in 43rd place with a score of 12-over 228 (75-79-74). The sophomore from Surrey, B.C., had four birdies and 37 pars, tied for the second most in the event.
 
"I'm extremely proud of how well the guys bounced back after a tough opening day," said Steinbach. We knew with the forecast of terrible weather and with the storm rolling in, we had a chance to make a move up the leaderboard with some tough, disciplined golf. The guys clutched up and played some one of the best rounds I've seen in a while. We have some work to do before the Regional Preview but we're trending in the right direction."
 
Steinbach's crew has one tournament left in its regular season schedule, the NCAA West Regional Spring Preview at Sonoma State (California). It will take place April 10-11 at the Foxtail Golf Club in Rohnert Park, California. It is the same course on which the regional championship will be contested May 11-13.

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