SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. – Hardware is headed back to Rocklin, as one Warrior was crowned the champion of the Golden State Athletic Conference Wednesday in Arizona. With the third and final round of the GSAC Championship wrapping up, Jessup's
Jessica Burdick has won her first career conference championship.
Burdick, a sophomore, left Arizona with some hardware last year as well as she was crowned Freshman of the Year. Now, thanks to a one-stroke advantage, Jessup has won its first individual title since Gurman Kaur-Knight's championship in 2021.
With her championship, Burdick also secures an automatic bid into the 2024 NAIA National Championship, beginning on May 14 from TPC Deer Run in Silvis, Illinois.
Burdick shot a final round of 76, placing her at +8 for the week. She narrowly beat Menlo's Holly Obermuller who finished one stroke back. The 2024 GSAC Player of the Year, OUAZ's Taylor Wilczek, finished third at +10.
Others in the field for the Jessup women included
Corina Shaw (T13),
Julianne Canda (T27),
Macy Anderson (33), and
Ayasha Phillips (34).
Jessup finished sixth as a team, while Hope International claimed the team title following a playoff with Vanguard.
In the men's tournament, victory goes to OUAZ, who beat The Master's by 18 strokes. The Spirit was led by GSAC Champion Kolby Shackelford, who won a playoff against his teammate, Colby Watkins.
The Jessup men featured
Braden Armstrong (T22),
Matthew Shimizu (T24),
Arturo Zavala (T24),
Trevor Halloran (T26), and
Mason Gray (32).
The three-day tournament began on Monday from Arizona's Briarwood Country Club. The par 72 track has been the consistent home to the conference championship. However, Jessup will compete at a new course next year, as they will no longer be members of the GSAC.
Wednesday concludes the final GSAC Championship for Jessup Golf, as the Warriors will be members of NCAA Division II and the PacWest Conference in the 2024-2 season.
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Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).
