Knoepfel vaults up GPAC leaderboard as fall season ends

SEWARD, Neb. – Bulldog freshman Jared Knoepfel battled miserable conditions on Monday and still managed to turn in a 78 at GPAC Qualifier No. 2 held at Firethorn Country Club in Lincoln, Neb. As a team, Concordia shot a 345 to place ninth among the 11 GPAC squads on the day. After two rounds of qualifiers, the Bulldogs are ninth with their total of 317-345–662.

“I try to prepare the team for every situation they will experience in a tournament, however today’s conditions couldn’t be simulated,” Concordia head coach Brett Muller said. “We played through the rain, the wind and the cold today. Today was the toughest conditions these guys of experienced in their golfing careers.”

Knoepfel soared all the way into a tie for 15th on the GPAC leaderboard through 36 holes of qualifier action. His 78 on Monday tied for fifth on the day and came on the heels of a solid 83 at GPAC Qualifier No. 1 on Sept. 19.

Even in ideal conditions, Knoepfel’s Monday round would have looked impressive.

“Jared played an absolutely amazing round of golf today,” Muller said. “He started the day five over par after his first four holes, then played his last 14 holes at two over par. Jared has been working on not letting a bad hole effect more than just one hole. He proved how important that is today. A 78 at Firethorn on any day is a good score. To do it today in today’s conditions is fantastic.”

 

Junior Shawn Rodehorst, a Kearney, Neb., native, came in next with an 86 at GPAC Qualifier No. 2. Rodehorst, who earned all-conference honors last season, sits in 27th with his two-round 78-86–164. Last season Rodehorst finished eighth in the GPAC.

Freshman Josh Hinrichs struggled with an uncharacteristically high 93 on Monday’s round. He dropped into a tie for 34th with his 75-93–168.

Sophomore Sam Simonson is the only other Bulldog who has golfed in both qualifying meets. He shot a 99 on Monday after shooting an 81 in the first qualifier. He is tied for 43rd.

Senior Sam DeFreece, who did not participate in GPAC Qualifier No. 1, carded the team’s third best score on Monday with an 88. That total tied him for 36th on the day.

The Bulldogs will return to action in the spring with two more GPAC qualifiers. The rest of the spring schedule is to be announced.