Mark Acosta
Editor in Chief
The men’s golf team wrapped up its winter season with a fifth-place finish at the Firestorm Invitational in Arizona on Nov. 13.
Freshman Nathan Stepanski led the Leopards, shooting a two-under 70 on the first day and closed out the second day with a one-over 73.
The invitational featured competitors from NCAA Division II, Division III, junior college and NAIA teams.
Junior Hisham Hussein also showed well, finishing the tournament in 11th place.
The reigning Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Association Athlete of the Year had a rough start after day one, sitting tied for 44th place.
But one day two, Hussein rocketed up the leaderboard with a three-under 69.
Freshman Connor Dunlop finished the tournament in a tie for 26th place after shooting an even 72.
This was the third and final event of fall season for men’s golf. They have looked strong and showed well in all of the tournaments thus far.
Previously, La Verne took third at the Marymount Fall Invitational in Palm Desert at the end of October. Hussein led ULV in that tournament, finishing in a tie for second place, with a six-under 210.
Before the Firestorm tournament, ULV played against Biola in a head-to-head at Sierra La Verne.
Biola is Division II, but the Leopards played good enough golf and took it to Eagles, 281-313.
Sophomore Jake Littlejohn led La Verne in the win shooting two-under. Hussein shot one-under while Conner Davis, Jason Brown and Dunlop all shot even.
The Leopards will resume action in the spring.
Mark Acosta can be reached at mark.acosta@laverne.edu.