Leads Loyola Marymount Lions to Runner-Up Finish
via: LMU Athletics
JGAA alum Riley Lewis continues to impress, winning individual honors at the 2022 West Coast Conference Men’s Golf Championship held late-April at the Reflection Bay Golf Club in Henderson, Nevada. The Loyola Marymount University sophomore fired a steady 12-under, 69-70-70—209 to win by a stroke, thanks in part to four birdies over five holes in the final round. As a team, the Lions made a final-round run, shooting 13-under to pull into a tie for second at 12-under, 852 for the tournament.
“I’m really proud of the team today,” said Lion’s head coach Jason D’Amore. “We had an opportunity today and the guys showed up and played great. Riley is a stud. He was patient all week and has been working really hard. He deserved this win.”
With his sophomore year win, Lewis became the first Lion since 2019, fifth in program history, to win the individual title. As a freshman, 2020, he opened his collegiate career with a 10-under par, 66-65-69—200 to tie for fifth at the Pasadera Collegiate Invitational. He also broke the LMU freshman scoring-average record with a 71.42 stroke average in 36 rounds at 12 events.
Lewis entered his first JGAA tournament in 2012 in the 10 and Under division, and logged more than 60 starts since then. He won at home at the 2020 Prescott City Junior Championship, and a second place the same year at the Fisher-Bryan Invitational, a PING Jr Masters Series tournament.
“The JGAA has been amazing,” Lewis said in a 2019 interview. “I’ve only played in one AJGA event, so for me, the JGAA has been huge in helping me find college recognition, helping me reach out to coaches, make connections with players and parents. I’m grateful for everything Mr. McNevin (JGAA director) has done. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to go to LMU without him.”
Always happy – and humbled – to help, Riley!
