St. Cloud, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus men’s golf team is in fifth place after shooting a 301 (+13) on the opening day of the Saint John’s Spring Invitational held Saturday at the St. Cloud Country Club.
“Decent start for the guys today,” said Head Coach Scott Moe. “We left a few out there the last couple holes but have put ourselves in good position for tomorrow’s 36-hole finish.”
Bethel University leads the 18-team field with a 293 (+5), Concordia College ranks second with a 295 (+7), and the University St. Thomas rounds out the top three in third with a 296 (+8).
Leading the Gusties on day one was Alec Aunan (Fr., Rock Island, Ill.) who fired a one-over-par 73 to finish alongside eight other golfers in sixth place.
William Leaf of the University of Minnesota leads all 96 competitors with a three-under 69. Bethel’s Alex Case, UW-Stout’s Kraig Joy, and St. Thomas’s Jack Riester all sit in a three-way tie for second with two-under 70s.
Rounding out Gustavus’s top group is Andrew Brandt (Jr., Medina, Minn.) in 20th with a 75 (+3), Matt Spier (Jr., Prior Lake, Minn.) in 29th with a 76 (+4), Chris Captin (Fr., Rochester, Minn.) in 40th with a 77 (+5), and Andrew Krasaway (Jr., Hermantown, Minn.) in 54th with a 79 (+7).
“Alec Aunan and Andrew Brandt turned in nice scores today,” added Moe. “However, it will take four good scores each round if we want to make a run at the podium. This is a strong field but the guys are ready for the challenge. I look forward to seeing how we come out and respond.”
The Saint John’s Spring Invite will come to a conclusion on Sunday, April 26 at the Monticello Country Club. Tomorrow’s action will begin with a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m.