ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Another 54-hole event has come to a conclusion for the Concordia University Men’s Golf team. Paced at the top of the lineup by junior Ivan Yabut, the Bulldogs placed fourth overall at the Siouxland Invite (Sept. 12-13) and hung right with each of the GPAC teams in the field. Eighty-three golfers took to The Ridge Golf Club in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Monday for two rounds and then to Landsmeer Golf Club in Orange City, Iowa, on Tuesday for one round.
Head Coach Brett Muller’s ‘A’ grouping carded a three-round score of 294-297-285–876 at the Siouland Invite while finishing just behind GPAC rivals Northwestern (866) and Morningside (871). The tournament title was captured by Indian Hills Community College (832).
“We’re much closer,” Muller said. “Obviously the GPAC is very deep when you look at the low team scores. It’s going to take some team rounds under par to really move up in the standings. We were close for most of the day but didn’t have enough guys under par. I’m very proud of Jacob Woodmancy’s performance the last two tournaments. He definitely gave us a lift in the top five this tournament.”
Woodmancy found himself in a tie for seventh on the individual leaderboard following Monday’s 36 holes. The Grant, Neb., native wound up sharing 15th place with a three-day score of 72-73-73–218. The Omaha native Yabut leapfrogged Woodmancy on the final tote board while shooting 71-75-69–215. Yabut’s two-under-par 69 moved him into a tie for 10th place, signaling his first top 10 tournament finish of the fall.
The next three in the ‘A’ group were Drew D’Ercole (75-76-72–223; T-27th), Jake Richmond (76-73-74–223; T-27th) and Justin Webert (77-79-71–227). Drew D’Ercole had entered the tournament as the team’s season scoring average in a close race at the top. As for the second grouping of Bulldogs, they shot 314-304-304–922 and placed 10th at the invite. The No. 1 golfer on the ‘B’ team was sophomore Josh D’Ercole (72-78-75–225; T-36th). Scores for all 10 Concordia golfers at the tournament can be viewed below.
Because of the depth of the lineup, the top five just might be fluid throughout the fall and spring. Never before has Muller had so many players capable of shooting 75 or lower every time out.
“Our depth is a strength this year,” Muller said. “I told the guys late last week that I don’t expect our top five to stay the same because we do have so many guys who are capable. It’s about going out and playing well in the tournaments. That’s how you keep a spot or earn a spot in the top five for the upcoming event.”
While the Bulldogs finished just behind two GPAC opponents at the Siouxland Invite, they managed to beat out other conference rivals such as Midland (fifth), Dordt (sixth), Briar Cliff (seventh), Dakota Wesleyan (12th) and Mount Marty (14th).
Bulldogs at the Siouxland Invite:
T10. Ivan Yabut: 71-75-69–215
T15. Jacob Woodmancy: 72-73-73–218
T27. Drew D’Ercole: 75-76-72–223
T27. Jake Richmond: 76-73-74–223
T36. Josh D’Ercole: 72-78-75–225
39. Justin Webert: 77-79-71–227
T44. Gavin McWhorter: 83-77-71–231
48. Jake Hagerbaumer: 83-72-79–234
T49. Taylor Johnson: 76-77-82–235
75. Brock Rogers: 88-83-79–250
The Bulldogs will have a break from tournament action while waiting to complete the fall portion of the season with the Nebraska Intercollegiate on Sept. 30-Oct. 1. The event will be held at Norfolk Country Club in Norfolk, Neb. The Nebraska Intercollegiate annually features golf programs from institutions across the state of Nebraska.