LINCOLN, Neb. – In action for the second and final round of the Blue River Classic, the Concordia University men’s golf team shaved nine strokes off its total from the previous day. The Bulldogs co-hosted the event with Doane. The tournament took place at Wilderness Ridge Golf Club on Tuesday (Sept. 4) and then shifted to Concordia’s home course, Highlands Golf Course, on Wednesday (Sept. 5).
Head coach Brett Muller’s squad ended with a two-day team total of 316-307–623, placing it ninth among a field of 17 squads. The bulk of the teams that descended upon Lincoln, Neb., are from within the GPAC.
Concordia entered a team of five players and three individuals into the Blue River Classic. Senior Tylar Samek emerged as the Bulldogs’ No. 1 with a 36-hole score of 77-74–151 (+8). Samek concluded the tournament in a tie for 25th place out of 105 competitors. Two Concordia freshmen acquitted themselves well in their first ever college meet. Rookies Drew D’Ercole (75-77–152; T-29th) and Jayveenrahj Gunaseelan (79-76–155; T-40th) also broke into the 70s in both rounds of the Blue River Classic.
The next two in line in the group of five were sophomore Jack Williams (85-82–167; T-84th) and junior Jayden Neal (88-80–168; T-87th). Golfing as an individual, sophomore Landon Walkenhorst tied for the second best score of the day among Bulldogs with his 76. Walkenhorst shot a two-round score of 93-76–169 (T-90th). The other Concordia competitors in the field were junior Harrison Helmer (91-80–171; 95th) and freshman Tyler Bartels (87-86–173; T-96th).
The fall season will resume next Monday and Tuesday (Sept. 9-10) when the Bulldogs compete at the Siouxland Invite hosted by both Dordt and Northwestern. The action on day one will take place at The Ridge in Sioux Center, Iowa, before moving to Landsmeer Golf Club in Orange City, Iowa, for day two.