PELLA—Central College claimed the top three spots in the Ryerson Invitational men's golf tourney Monday, but the lineup picture coach
Mel Blasi was hoping to clarify grew even blurrier.
Central's second team, the White squad, took the seven-team tourney title with 317 while the third team took second at 319 and the first team, the Central Red squad, placed third with 320. The Dutch fourth team was seventh at 346. Augustana College (Ill.) shot 330 with Buena Vista University at 333 and Simpson College at 333.
"It's kind of exciting, in some ways, when your second and third teams play well like that, but obviously some of our top players struggled," coach
Mel Blasi said.
Cole Hartnett (freshman, Waukee), from the Central third team, took medalist honors with 77 on the rugged par-72 Bos Landen Golf Club.
"Cole shot 43 on the front nine but was 3-under on the back with two holes to go," Blasi said. "He's got lots of upside."
John Oltman (sophomore, Pella) from the Dutch first team and
Trey Wood (sophomore, Pella) from the second team, followed with 78.
Drew Rogers (freshman, Sullivan, Ill.), also playing for the Dutch varsity tied for fifth at 79,
Cole McGriff (freshman, Grinnell) had 81,
Lucas Wendel (junior, Le Claire, Pleasant Valley HS) had 82 and
Jacob Moffett (sophomore, Mount Pleasant) had 84.
Sharing fifth with Rogers at 79 were
Dustin Haines (junior, Sigourney) and
Drake Hamilton (freshman, Westlake, Texas, Keller HS) of the Central second team along with
Nathan Lendman (freshman, Poplar Grove, Ill., Belvidere North HS) and
Jackson Murphy (freshman, Carthage, Ill., Illini West HS).
Conditions were favorable but Blasi noted that it's only the third time this spring that the Dutch have been able to play at Bos Landen, a course that puts a premium on course knowledge.
"That probably contributed," he said. "We were not quite ready for the kind of challenge that Bos presents itself with."
Central takes Easter weekend off and returns to action next Monday at 9 a.m. with a dual against Iowa Wesleyan University at the Geneva Golf and Country Club in Muscatine, site of the American Rivers Championships April 28-30.
