Andy Petersen Sept. 22, 2008

Dutch bounce back in Wisconsin

EAU CLAIRE, WIS.—Despite less forgiving conditions, the Central College men’s golf team rallied for a fifth-place finish at the 15-team Frank Wriggleswroth Blugold Invitational Monday.

After posting a 313 at the Eau Claire Country Club Central came back with Monday’s third-best round at 309 for 622. No. 1-ranked St. John’s (Minn.) was first at 301-306—607, a shot better than Wis.-Stout while No. 18 Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) was a stroke in front of Central at 304-317—621.

“The conditions were a lot tougher,” coach Charlie Estabrook said. “The pins were in tough positions and the wind was blowing a lot harder.”

Andy Petersen (senior, Davenport, West HS) used a birdie-birdie finish to climb into a tie for seventh place at 77-75—152. Jason Harvey (sophomore, Goldfield, Clarion-Goldfield HS) tied for 15th at 76-79—155 with Justin Smool (junior, Bagley, Panorama HS) at 78-82—160, Andrew Townsend (junior, Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley HS) at 82-78—160 and Joel Winters (junior, Hampton, Hampton-Dumont HS) at 85-77—162.

“I was real proud of Andy Petersen for finishing his career at the Eau Claire Country Club with two birdies,” Estabrook said. “And I was happy to see Joel (Winters) come back like he did.

“Our goal is still to post five scores of 75 or better. We haven’t done that at Eau Claire. But I’m happy with our performance.”

Central’s score was 14 strokes better than the Dutch turned in at Eau Claire last year when they placed seventh out of 15 squads. Another strong field awaits at the 54-hole Twin Cities Classic Saturday through Monday in Minnesota. Teams will play Saturday at the Elk River Country Club, before moving to the Links at North Fork Sunday and the White Bear Yacht Club in St. Paul, Minn. Monday. Central was fifth in a 17-team field there last fall.

Central’s second team, the White team, is competing Monday and Tuesday at the Iowa Wesleyan Invitational at Burlington.