Rodehorst-led Bulldogs finish 12th at Siouxland Invite
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Head coach Brett Muller’s men’s golfers concluded their first event of the 2012-13 season on Friday with a 12th-place finish at the two-day Siouxland Invite. After carding a 323 on Thursday, the Bulldogs posted a 328 on day two at The Ridge Golf Club in Sioux Center, Iowa.
Sophomore Shawn Rodehorst again paced Concordia by shooting a 78 in the event’s final round, following a 76 on Thursday. Rodehorst’s 36-hole total of 154 placed him in a tie for 21st overall. Junior Sam DeFreece shot a 78-81–159 as the Bulldogs’ next-best performer.
Freshman Brock Colelasure made the biggest improvement of any Concordia participants as he shaved six strokes off his day one total in carding an 84 on Friday. Sophomore Andy Nevius posted an 83-88– 171 while freshman Sam Simonson matched that two-day total with a consistent 86-85–171 performance.
Muller was disappointed with his team’s regression on the second day of the event with the understanding that there will be growing pains for one of the youngest varsity squads in the NAIA. The Bulldog group of five featured one junior, two sophomores and two freshmen at the Siouxland Invite. The quintet combined for 17 varsity rounds in 2011-12, 13 of which came from Rodehorst.
Northwestern captured the team title among the 17-team field by shooting a 293-283–576. The Red Raiders had the top two golfers in the event as Ryan Kiewiet edged out teammate Neil Malenke by one stroke with a 73-70–143 to claim medalist honors. Northwestern’s 576 was 22 strokes better than second-place AIB (Iowa).
Concordia will return to action on Sept. 13 when they take part in the first GPAC Qualifier event of the season. It will be held in Orange City, Iowa.
