WAVERLY— The weather improved long enough for the Central College men's golf team to play the first round of the Wartburg Fall Invitational Saturday and finish with a share of second place before Sunday's second round was washed out.
           
Playing on Prairie Links Golf Course, a par-72 course that played to 6,858 yards, Central carded 288 as a team. Kirkwood Community College won the team title with a 271. Bautista Valerias (junior, Naples, Fla, Gulf Coast HS) highlighted the day for the varsity lineup with a four-under par of 68. He finished in fourth place.
           
Juniors Carter Yurgae (West Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) and Maison Brandt (Byron, Ill.) tied for 20th with a 73. Crew Klingner (junior, Williamsburg) tied for 27th at 74.
           
"I was really pleased with how we played in round one," coach Mel Blasi said. "Bautista played his best collegiate round and was solid all day. The other three juniors all were consistent."
           
The top player in a Central uniform was Lincoln Eighmy (senior, Carlisle) on the second team, who tied for second with a five-under par 67. He finished with four birdies on the back nine and a bogey-free round.
           
"Lincoln was just brilliant," Blasi said. "Both he and Bautista have really worked hard on their games and it was great to see them rewarded for it."
           
As good as things were for Central in round one, the team was disappointed it didn't get another chance on day two.
           
"I know the guys were looking forward to coming out and improving their scores," Blasi said. "We left a few shots out there, especially from 100 yards and in. But it was a much better tournament overall for us."
           
Central is set to host the Central Fall Classic on October 5 and 6 at Bos Landen Golf Course in Pella.
           
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