WAIMEA, Hawaii -- Vanguard men's golf kicked off their trip to the Pacific island chain by taking part in the Dennis Rose Collegiate Challenge hosted by the University of Hawaii at Hilo.  The Blue and Gold finished 19th with a total of 642 strokes (321-321) after the two-day event.  Colorado Christian shot 30 under par to win the event with 546 total shots and they also had the top three finishers in the individual standings. 
 
Charles Thurston finished tied for 81st for VU, as he posted a 155 (75-80) for the tournament.
 
The Course:  The North Course at Mauna Lani is another beautiful location for a round of golf on the Big Island.  Set on rolling terrain that eventually dips down to the sea, the grass stands in stark contrast to fields of lava rocks that surround the holes.  The course has a maximum yardage of 6,913 yards from the back tees and is a par 72.
 
What Happened?  Thurston had three birdies and nine pars on round one to end Monday with a 75.  He then snagged a birdie on the 15th and 11 pars on round two.  Charles Gulbe, Matthew Wilkes, Alexander Elia, and Rex Robinette all were within a few shots of each other, with Gulbe and Wilkes tied for 100th.  Gulbe had scores of 85 and 79 to net 164 shots for the tournament, as he collected 10 pars during round one and two birdies and nine pars during his second tour of the course.  Wilkes tallied two birdies and nine pars on Monday and followed that with nine pars on Tuesday for matching rounds of 82.
 
Elia ended in 102nd and had an 85 on day one after posting two birdies and four pars.  He then sliced off five shots from his first round on Tuesday, garnering 11 pars to net an 80 on day two for a grand total of 165 strokes.  Robinette was one stroke behind Elia in 103rd, as the senior went 79-87 at the Challenge.  He had nine pars and two birdies on day one and followed that up with eight pars on day two.
 
What's Next?  After a few days off, the Lions will take part in the HPU Sharks Shootout on Friday and Saturday.