LONGVIEW, TEXAS—Coach Mel Blasi saw some sunlight in a soggy closing round for the Central College men's golf team in the season-opening the Pinecrest Invitational men's golf tournament Tuesday.
           
The Dutch slipped to fourth place in rainy conditions in the seven-team tourney at 303-307-307—917.
               
Second-round play was halted Monday night due to storms and completed Monday morning before starting the third round of the 54-hole tournament at the par-71, 6,609-yard Pinecrest Country Club. Heavy rains fell overnight and throughout portions of Tuesday's round.
              
Harold Dobernecker (sophomore, Nevada) remained the Dutch leader at 73-75-77-225 for eighth place but emerging next in a tie for 12th was Drake Hamilton (freshman, Westlake, Texas, Keller HS) who turned in Tuesday's team-low round while playing in his home state and shot 79-75-75—229. Blasi is hoping Hamilton can provide an answer in his search for a fifth varsity contributor this spring.
           
"Drake had a really good tournament," Blasi said. "He played really solid. It was nice to see him score for us."
           
Jake Moffett (sophomore, Mount Pleasant) shot 77-78-83-238, Kyle Gabos (junior, Plymouth, Minn., Maple Grove HS) shot 83-79-76—238, Drew Rogers (freshman, Sullivan, Ill.) had 82-78-79--239 and Lucas Wendel (junior, Le Claire, Pleasant Valley HS) had 74-85-81-240, In an unusual tourney format, each team played six golfers instead of the traditional five, but still counted only the low four scores each round.
           
"Drew Rogers played really well on the front nine," Blasi said. "He was 2-under in the first seven holes. And it seems like Kyle Gabos is always able to sneak a good score in there when we need it."
           
At-large entrant Dustin Haines (junior, Sigourney) shot 80-79-86—245.
           
Schreiner University (Texas) won with 293-294-291--878, Concordia University (Texas) followed at 301-200-291--892, East Texas Baptist University had 308-298-303—909. while Central was fourth. Tourney host LeTourneau University (Texas) was next at 314-305-307—926.
           
Central opens the northern portion of its spring schedule Saturday-Sunday, March 26-27 at the Jim Wetherbee Invitational at Galesburg, Illinois. The Dutch last played in the tourney in 2019, finishing fourth in a 20-team field.
           
"It's a good tournament," Blasi said. "It will be a good test for us but I think it's a tournament we can do well in."