VERNON HILLS, Ill. – The last time we saw the Yellowjacket men's golf team, they were wrapping up the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) championship for the fifth time in six years.
With the win, the Yellowjackets also sewed up the UMAC's automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Golf Championships. That's the good news. The bad news – the NCAA Championships weren't a week or two away. Try seven months.
In the meantime, the Yellowjackets spent time honing their games indoors through the winter months until the could return to the links. The wait finally ended, and the return to the course came Friday, as the Yellowjackets competed at the Forester Spring Invite, hosted by Lake Forest College, at the White Deer Run Golf Course.
The day was windy with periods of rain Friday, making conditions more difficult than usual for the event. Still, the Yellowjackets had a good day in their return to the course and were able to knock off the winter rust.
The Yellowjackets shot a combined 327, placing them in 12th place among 17 teams. Aurora University out of Aurora, Ill. won the event, shooting a 299, putting them four strokes clear of second-place St. Norbert College. Wheaton, Wisconsin Lutheran and Carthage rounded out the top five.
All five golfers for the Yellowjackets shot in the 80s, with four of the five finishing within three strokes.
Nate Burke (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld) and
Conner Willard (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) led the way for the Yellowjackets, tying for 36th place after each shot a nine-over 81.
Blu Anderson (Amery, Wis./Amery) was right behind Burke and Willard, shooting a 10-over 82, while placed him in a tie for 46th.
Andrew Rude (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) finished the round with an 83, tying him for 55th place.
Rounding things out for the Yellowjackets was
T.J. Sitek (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior), who shot an 89.
Meet Notes
- After going six over on the front nine, Burke got stronger on the back, shooting just three over, including a streak of four straight pars.
- Willard had a great back nine, shooting just two over and carded two birdies over a three-hole stretch.
- Rude was six over on the front nine, but finished one under over the last three holes.
- Anderson had a strong finish, shooting just one over for the last seven holes.
- Sitek was consistent, shooting a 44 on the front and following that with a 45 on the back. He also carded a birdie on both the front and back nines.
It's a quick turnaround for the Yellowjackets, who will compete Saturday in the WLC Spring Invite, hosted by Wisconsin Lutheran College. Tee times begin at 1:30 p.m. at Morningstar Golfers Club.
