ORANGE CITY, Iowa – At the close of the first day of action at the Siouxland Invitational, senior Nolan Zikas put himself atop the field of 82 golfers present at Landsmeer Golf Club on Thursday (Sept. 13). With a score just off his career low, Zikas has helped position the Concordia University men’s golf team in fourth place out of 16 squads, including junior varsity groupings.
This is the second time out this fall for eighth-year head coach Brett Muller’s men’s team. His five ‘A’ team members shot a 302. Meanwhile, the ‘B’ squad carded a 354 (15th place).
Zikas turned in his two-under-par 69 on the strength of six birdies. He just missed his career best (and school record) score of 68 carded at last year’s Blue River Classic. Through the first two rounds of his senior season, Zikas is two strokes under par. He also shot an even-par 70 at the team’s season opening event, the Briar Cliff Invitational on Sept. 5. A native of La Vista, Neb., Zikas will have Morningside’s Cody Holck (70) and Jonathan Douglas (71) and Northwestern’s Isaac Knock (71).
The rest of Concordia’s ‘A’ team included juniors Josh Schaefer (76; 17th), Tylar Samek (77; T-18th) and Colton Zulkoski (80; T-38th) and sophomore Jayden Neal (84; T-49th). The next Bulldog wave of five featured sophomore Harrison Helmer (83; T-47th), senior Grant Suchanek (84; T-49th), freshman Landon Walkenhorst (91; T-71st), freshman William Christianson (96; T-76th) and Nathan Auffet (106, 80th).
Round two of the Siouxland Invite will shift to The Ridge Golf Club in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Friday (Sept. 14). As a team, Concordia is 15 strokes behind first-place Morningside. The Bulldogs are just four strokes out of second place.