MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The feverish sprint that is the college golf season got underway this weekend for the Yellowjacket men's golf team, as it faced a strong field and sweltering temperatures at the two-day Augsburg University Fall Invitational.
 
After finishing the opening round tied for fourth place Saturday, the Yellowjackets closed out the weekend tied for fifth place, shooting a combined score of 612. The second Yellowjacket men's team entry placed 12th, shooting a combined score of 685.
 
Host Augsburg led the event from start to finish, winning with a team score of 586.
 
A newcomer led the way for the Yellowjackets this weekend. Blu Anderson () shot an even-par 72 in the opening round Saturday and was even better Sunday, shooting a 70 to finish the event tied for second place at -2. Anderson had only four bogeys over the 36 holes.
 
Behind Anderson was sophomore Andrew Rude (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior). After playing in four events as a freshman in 2022-23, Rude got his second campaign with the Yellowjackets off to a strong start, finishing tied for 15th with a two-day score of 152, including a one-over 73 in the opening round Saturday.
 
Teammates Nate Burke (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld) and T.J. Sitek (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) finished in a tie for 35th place, each carding a 15-over 159. Burke fired a five-over 77 in the opening round before shooting 82 Sunday. Sitek had rounds of 80 and 79, respectively.
 
Rounding things out for the Yellowjackets was Trevor Durfee (Superior, Wis./Superior High School), who placed 54th with a 28-over 172. He shot 85 Saturday and 87 Sunday.

The Yellowjacket B entry was led by Ian Bundy (Austin, Minn./Austin) who carded a 14-over 158 in his two rounds, tying him for 33rd place. Bundy, who was the top shooter for the Yellowjackets at last year's NCAA Championships, shot 80 in the opening round and 78 Sunday.
 
Not far behind Bundy was Brayden Tyman (Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet Senior), who finished the weekend in 52nd place with a 24-over 168. Seth Pettingill () was three shots behind Tyman, tying for 55th place after shooting 174. Pettingill shot 89 Saturday before improving to 85 Sunday.
 
Ryan Boesneilers () shot 185, tying him for 62nd place. Finally, Jenner Graff () shot 198 for the weekend, placing him 66th overall.

Gabe Benson of Concordia College was the individual medalist, firing a seven-under 137 to best the field by five strokes.
 
After a three-year hiatus, the Yellowjackets will be back on their home course, hosting the Twin Ports Collegiate Saturday, Sept. 9 and Sunday, Sept. 10 at Nemadji Golf Course.