BOULDER CITY, Nev. – After collecting the program's fifth Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) championship in the last six seasons, the Yellowjacket men's golf team claimed the conference's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Championships, taking place at The Legacy Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada.
Tuesday the 'Jackets commenced day one of the tournament, landing in a tie of 37th place alongside Otterbein University in a highly competitive field of golfers.
Tournament Notes
- Spearheading the Yellowjacket entries while shooting the most consistent was Andrew Rude (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior), who fired identical rounds of 38 to finish with a four-over 76. His back nine featured seven straight pars from holes 10-16.
- Finishing just a stroke higher than Rude was Nate Burke (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld). He began his round with a birdie on the par-four first and ultimately captured another on the par-four 11th. Burke's round saw him shoot a 38/39 split for a day one total of 77.
- The UMAC Rookie of the Year Blu Anderson (Amery, Wis./Amery) capped his first day with a 79, shooting 39 on the front before carding a 40 on the back nine. He rattled off two birdies on the afternoon, coming on the par-five ninth and the par-four 11th.
- Conner Willard's (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) opening round saw a 39 on the front nine while finishing the back nine with a 41. He parred four-straight holes, coming on holes seven through ten.
- Rounding out UWS was T.J. Sitek (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior), who fired an 81 on the day. His front nine came in at 44, but he managed to shave seven strokes on his back nine total of 37. Holes 10-18 saw Sitek collect six pars and a birdie on the par-five 17th.
The 'Jackets return to the course Wednesday for round two action, commencing at 10:40 a.m. CT in Nevada.
