BU's Gatlin and Rodgers have Bruins in front at NSAA Championships
Bruin teammates Dylan Rodgers and Thomas Gatlin share the individual lead and the Bellevue University men’s golf team leads in the team standings after one round of play at the 2024-25 North Star Athletic Association Men’s Golf Championship.
CARRINGTON, N.D. -- Bruin teammates Dylan Rodgers and Thomas Gatlin share the individual lead and the Bellevue University men's golf team leads in the team standings after one round of play at the 2024-25 North Star Athletic Association Men's Golf Championship.
The tournament's first two rounds are being played at the 6,855-yard, par 72 CrossRoads Golf Club.
Bellevue shot a 7-under 281 as a team, to open a 5-stroke lead over second place University of Jamestown at 2-under (286). Dickinson State University shot a 2-over 290 and Mayville State University fired an 8-over 296. Valley City State University rounds out the field at 44-over (332).
Eight players shot under par on the day, including three from Bellevue.
Last year's individual champion, Rodgers sank first round-high seven birdies and nine pars on the round while posting just two bogeys on the day. Birdies on No. 2, 5, and 9 saw him shoot a 2-under 34 on the front while birdies on No. 10, 12, 13, and 15 carried him to a 3-under 33 on the back.
Gatlin birdied six holes on the day to go with 11 pars against just one birdie. He shot a first round best 4-under on the front nine with four birdies (3, 4, 7, 9). On the back, he made birdies on both No. 11 and 16.
Jayce Johnson, of Dickinson State, is two strokes back of the lead in third, following a 3-under 69 first round.
Cayden Wynne finds himself in a three-way tie for sixth place with a 1-under 71. He birdied four holes (3, 7, 16, 17) and made par on 12 others as he shot an even par 36 on the front and a 1-under 35 on the back.
Randy Christiansen carded a 4-over 76 in Sunday's first round. He is tied for 16th place in the 25-golfer field. He fired an even-par back nine, highlighted by a birdie on No. 15, and made par on 13 holes on the day.
Rounding out the Bruin lineup, Ludwig Klingspor posted a 6-over 78 and is in 21st place. He was consistent, shooting 3-over 39 on both the front and back, making 13 pars in 18 holes.
Note: The 72-hole tournament will conclude with the third and fourth rounds being played in the spring on Monday-Tuesday, Apr. 28-29 in Bellevue, Neb. at BU's home course, Platteview Country Club.