Sauk Centre, Minn. – After the opening day of the Saint John’s Fall Invitational played at the Greystone Golf Course, the Gustavus Adolphus men’s golf team is in eighth place alongside Luther College with a team score of 317 (+29).
“It was a tough round today,” said Head Coach Scott Moe. “Conditions were difficult for scoring and we played in about four hours of steady rain. We battled hard, but lost a few errant shots, which many players had.”
Coach Moe said the difference was that his squad didn’t make any putts of significant length. “Our putting suffered a bit but our ball striking was good enough to be right in the mix. If we can rock and roll tomorrow we will be right back in it,” he concluded.
The University of Manitoba paced the field with a 298 (+10) on day one. Nebraska Wesleyan University is in second with a 301 (+13), and UW-Eau Claire is in third with a 304 (+16).
Leading the Gusties on the opening day was Matt Jensen (Sr., Edina, Minn.) who shot a four-over-par 76 to finish in a tie for 13th. Tyler McMorrow (Sr., St. Cloud, Minn.) and Andrew Oakes (Sr., Hermantown, Minn.) finished behind him in 41st with eight-over-par 80s.
Ben Elvestrom (Jr., Dellwood, Minn.) and Andrew Krasaway (So., Hermantown, Minn.) of Gustavus’s second team also ended up in 41st next to McMorrow and Oakes with identical 80s.
The only individual to shoot under par was Josh Wytinck of Manitoba. Wytinck is the day one leader after firing a three-under-par 69. Morgan Rask of Saint John’s sits in second with a 72 (E), and Rory Doll of Nebraska Wesleyan rounds out the top three in third with a 73 (+1).
The final round of the Saint John’s Innovational will be held at Blackberry Ridge Golf Course in Sartell, Minn. on Sunday, Sept. 15. The day will begin with a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m.