SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Led by junior Tylar Samek, the Concordia University men’s golf team made a positive step on the second day of the GPAC championships contested at Willow Run Golf Course in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Tuesday (Sept. 25). The Bulldogs moved from seventh to sixth place in the conference standings by shaving nine strokes off their total from Monday while competing at the same course.
Eighth-year head coach Brett Muller’s squad shot a two-round total of 609 (309-300), one stroke better than seventh-place Dordt. Concordia placed fifth in the GPAC in 2017-18.
Said Muller, “It was much better today. We shot a 139 on the front nine and actually moved all the way up to fourth. We did not play as well on the back nine. We talk about finishing the round and not doing that hurt us again today.”
A native of David City, Neb., Samek is enjoying the best run of his career in conference championship play. Samek has turned in GPAC place finishes of 22nd as a freshman and 32nd as a sophomore. On Tuesday, Samek carded an even-par 70 and moved into a tie for sixth on the individual conference leaderboard (74-70–144). Samek’s previous career best round was an even-par 71 in the first round of the GPAC championships a year ago.
“Tylar got off to a great start today,” Muller said. “He was three-under-par at one point. He was solid through the greens. Tylar focused on his wedge game and that put him in position to make more birdies.”
In his first three rounds this fall, senior Nolan Zikas carded scores of 70, 69 and 69, respectively. Unfortunately he was unable to duplicate those performances this week. He finds himself in a tie for 20th place in the GPAC (76-74–150) as he makes a run at a fourth all-conference award in a row. The remainder of the Bulldog lineup at Willow Run included newcomers in juniors Josh Schaefer (79-77–156; 36th) and Colton Zulkoski (81-79–160; T-40th) and sophomore Jayden Neal (80-83–163; T-44th).
Just one event remains on the fall schedule: the Nebraska Intercollegiate (Oct. 12-13). The two-day tournament will be held at Norfolk Country Club in Norfolk, Neb. The men’s golf spring 2019 schedule has not yet been announced but the dates for the GPAC spring championship rounds are set for April 23-24 at Dakota Dunes Country Club in Dakota Dunes, S.D.