IOWA CITY—Senior
John Oltman (Pella) posted three birdies and helped carry the Central College men's golf team to third place after one round of the Central Fall Classic Monday.
Competing at the par-72 Finkbine Golf Course, Oltman carded a 74. The Dutch shot 307 while first place Aurora University (Ill.) shot 297 with Augustana College (Ill.) at 301 and St. Ambrose a shot behind Central at 308. in the 17-team, 36-hole tournament. Aurora's Scott Boyajian has a 2-shot lead in the individual standings with a 1-under-par 71.
"John was really consistent from start to finish," coach
Mel Blasi said. "He was a really bright light for us and we needed him."
Senior
Harold Dobernecker (Nevada) recorded four birdies in a roller-coaster round, finishing at 77 while
Jake Moffett (senior, Mount Pleasant) and
Kayden Pendergrass (junior, Mount Vernon) shot 78 and
Cole McGriff (junior, Grinnell) had 83.
Blasi also cited Pendergrass.
"Kayden had a really good round today," Blasi said.
"I thought we played the front nine very well, although Harold (Dobernecker) had two bad holes that really hurt him. He played really well other than those two holes. He'll be ready to get back out there tomorrow."
Such is the nature of the Finkbine course, Blasi said.
"You can go along and be playing really well and then one hole can eat you up," he said. "There are holes you really have to use strategy and get the ball in the right position. If you get out of position, and that means being maybe 10 feet past the pin, you're going to have trouble and that's what happened today."
Central's second unit, the White team, stands 15th.
Charlie Gaer (senior, Des Moines, Roosevelt HS) and
Ethan Gordon (junior, Pella) each carded an 81.
Tee times start at 9 a.m. Tuesday for the tournament's final round.
"I think the guys feel confident they can score on the golf course," Blasi said. "But it will be much more windy and scores will be higher."
