LE SUER, MINN. –Central College opened in seventh place in a competitive field at the 15-team Bobby Krig Invitational men's golf tourney Friday.
           
Teams played 36 of the tournament's 54 holes Friday at the par-70 Le Sueur Country Club. They'll move to the New Prague Golf Course in nearby New Prague, Minnesota for the final 18 holes Saturday with an 8 a.m. shotgun start.
           
In chilly, damp weather, the Dutch shot 306-305—611. The tourney host, Gustavus Adolphus (College) leads at 291-287—578 with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, ranked No. 19 in the GCAA Bushnell/Golf Week Division III coaches poll, second at 289-293—582. Bethel University (Minn.) is third at 295-292—587 and No. 25-rated Saint John's University (Minn.) fourth at 291-299—590. Central is the lone Iowa school in the field.
           
Kayden Pendergrass (senior, Mount Vernon) is tied for 15th individually at 73-75--148. Corey Boerner of Wis.-Eau Claire leads at 72-69—141. Central's Maison Brandt (freshman, Byron, Ill.) had 77-75—152, Crew Klingner (freshman, Williamsburg) shot 78-76—154, Carter Yurgae (freshman, West Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) shot 78-79—157 and Blake Wynn (junior, Milan, Ill., Sherrard HS) had 82-83—165.
           
"Kayden (Pendergrass) and Maison (Brandt) both played well," coach Mel Blasi said. "Kayden was really solid from the get-go. He had very solid ball-striking and he's pretty smart. He can navigate himself even when he hasn't seen the course."
           
Heavy rains Thursday prevented the Dutch from playing a practice round and they were unfamiliar with the course.
           
"It's a course you want to play a little bit because it's an old country club with lots of little tricks and turns, but I thought we adapted pretty well," Blasi said.
           
Brandt was also consistent.
           
"I thought Maison had a great day," Blasi said. "He played really solid the last 18; he just didn't make very many birdies."
           
Blasi said the New Prague course is a more straightforward layout.
           
"They'll tuck the pins and make them hard, but the course itself should be a lot easier to navigate," he said.