BU fifth through first round at Kyle Blaser Invite
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- The Bellevue University men's golf team batted cold playing conditions and the team finds itself in fifth place after one round of play at the Kyle Blaser Invitational.
The event is hosted by Oklahoma City University and being held at the 7,255 yard, par 72 Gaillardia Country Club.
Science & Arts (+10) leads Oklahoma City (+16) by six strokes atop the team leaderboard. MidAmerica Nazarene (+25), Southwestern Christian (+27), and Bellevue (+28) are tightly bunched in the middle of the field with Sterling (+33) and Morningside (+37) lingering.
Southwestern Christian's Dawson Branstetter and Oklahoma City's Luke Woods sit atop the individual leaderboard at 2-under 70. OCU's Jack Newton is third at 1-over (73).
Thomas Gatlin was Bellevue's top golfer on the day, firing a 3-over 75 to find himself in a four-way tie for seventh place. He was 1-over on the front nine and 2-over on the back with birdies on the 562-yard, par three No. 3 and the 540-yard, par five No. 18 accompanied by a dozen pars.
Kyle Dale is among five players tied for 18th at 7-over (79) through one round of play. Dale's round was highlighted by a birdie on the 208-yard, par three No. 15 to go along with 10 pars.
Dylan Rodgers and Randy Christiansen are tied for 25th overall, along with two others, after posting first round 9-over 81s. Rodgers had a consistent round in which he parred 10 holes and made a birdie on No. 3 while Christiansen birdied the 433-yard, par four No. 12 and 597-yard, par five No. 14 to post a 3-over back nine.
Martin Hempston rounded out the BU lineup with a 10-over 82 on the day. He is in a five-way tie for 29th overall. He made birdies on bot the 187-yard, par three No. 13 and No. 18 while shooting a strong 1-over across his final eight holes.
The tournament wraps up tomorrow with the final 18 holes in the weather-shortened event.