ANKENY—With promising finishes from sophomore Matt Briggs (sophomore, Burlington, Notre Dame HS) and freshman Drew Rogers (Sullivan, Ill.), the Central College men's golf team closed an encouraging fall season by placing fifth at the 11-team Grand View Invitational Tuesday.
           
Rogers tied for 15th individually at 71-74—145 on the par-71 Otter Creek Golf Course while Briggs shared 20th at 74-73—147 along with John Oltman (sophomore, Pella), who shot 70-77—147. Lucas Wendel (junior, Le Claire, Pleasant Valley HS) shot 74-78--152 and Jacob Moffett (sophomore, Mount Pleasant) had 76-81—157.
           
"Matt Briggs was real steady today," coach Mel Blasi said. "He and Drew Rogers both played really solid golf and, even on the difficult holes, they kind of held it together."
           
Central shot 289-302—591. Junior college power Iowa Western was the winner with an impressive 287-274—561 that included a 6-under-par 65 Tuesday from Thomas Craig. NAIA Northwestern College was second at 289-279—568.
           
The Dutch were among just two NCAA Division III schools in the field. Central's second unit, the White team, was eighth at 310-306—616. Drake Hamilton (freshman, Westlake, Texas, Keller HS) had 74-74—148 to place 24th while Kyle Gabos (junior, Plymouth, Minn., Maple Grove HS) had 74-77—151.
           
Winds picked up Tuesday and that proved troublesome for the Dutch, who were without the team's No. 1 player, Harold Dobernecker (sophomore, Nevada).
           
"We were around even par for the day and 5-over for the tournament after seven holes," Blasi said. "But then we turned and went into the wind and we struggled."
           
But Blasi liked the growth the young Dutch displayed during the fall campaign.
           
"I think we were in the last group in almost every tournament we played in," he said. "That shows you we were very competitive all the way through the season. We got to play with a lot of different competition and I thought, overall, the fall experience was really good. It showed that we have improved a lot over last year."
           
The spring season launches in March but Blasi said it's important that the Dutch appreciate the value of off-season work.
           
"This is the time of year that a player can really devote themselves to their game and get better," he said. "The hard part is that sometimes they're tired. So they need a little rest but then this is when you can really work on those short-game fundamentals and make a little swing change or grip change, if you need to.
           
"They don't have to worry about competition for a little while so after taking a few days off, they'll need to get to work and keep getting better."