Playing his final collegiate round, Western Washington University senior Sean Packer finished in a five-way tie for third place, just one stroke behind the leaders, and the Vikings tied for eighth in the team standings at the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Championships which ended Saturday in Houston, Texas.

Packer’s placing was the second highest in school history and the best since Western’s Bill Wright won the NAIA National Championship in 1960. Packer finished the four-day, 72-hole tournament at 1-under 279, shooting a final-round, even par 70 after posting 69s on each of the first two days and having a 71 on Friday.

Tied for fourth entering the final round, Packer played the back nine first and had three straight bogeys on the middle three holes, but regrouped with two pars and a birdie on No.18.

On the front nine, Packer birdied No.3 and No.5 to go 1-under after narrowly missing birdies on No.1 and No.2. With four holes to play, one birdie would have put him a playoff for the national title and two would have given him the championship outright.

“What an incredible performance for your final event to be the only player on the course for the final four holes with a chance to win,” said Western coach Steve Card. “He gave himself opportunities on three of those holes and just couldn’t get the putts to fall. To pull those shots off at the end showed a tremendous amount of character.”

“His last 12 holes was an unbelievable stretch of golf. Given the pressure, to make no mistakes, no blemishes on the card, was absolutely incredible.”

The Vikings shot a 4-over 284 to tie for eighth place at 1,144 with Indianapolis (289). They were ninth following third-round play and fourth after each of the first two days.