Cobbers Go For A Rollercoaster Ride At Bemidji St. Invite

BEMIDJI, Minn. (9/13/22)---It was a rollercoaster ride for Concordia on Day 2 at the Bemidji State Invite. The Cobbers began the final round in a tie for sixth place in the team standings. They steadily progressed up the tracks throughout the first 9 holes, and found themselves in second place late in the round. CC then went down the rails down towards the end and finished in fifth place.

Concordia ended Day 2 with a team score of 294 which was three shots better than the opening round on Monday. The Cobbers finished the tournament with a total of 591. That score was only two shots out of third place, and four behind the runner-up finisher.

The Cobbers were led by the freshman trio of Landon Olson, Gabe Benson and Jayce Johnson who all finished in the Top 30 of the individual standings. Olson led the first-year crew with a 1-over-par 145 (73-72). He came through with a 13th-place finish which is his best of the year.

Olson had an eagle and and a birdie on Day 1, and had a more even-par round on Tuesday as he posted a pair of birdies to go along with 13 pars.  

Benson was the most consistent of the seven Cobber golfers at the meet. He shot identical 73s to post a score of 146 and earned his first collegiate Top 15 finish with a T14 spot.   

Benson came away with five birdies over the two rounds. Like Olson, he had 13 pars on Tuesday. Benson finished the two days with five birdies, which was third best among CC golfers.

Johnson, who was playing in his first collegiate tournament, shook off the jitters of an opening-round 78 and came through a 73 on Day 2. His total of 151 was good for a tie for 28th place. Johnson led the team with six birdies for the tournament. That total was tied for 12th best among the 64 competitors.

Ryan Jenson and Justin Lamp were the other two golfers who made up the CC scoring squad. Jenson shot a 73 on Monday, and then came back with a 79 on Day 2. His total of 152 put him in a tie for 32nd place. Jenson had an eagle and three birdies in the opening round and posted three more birdies on Day 2.

Lamp opened with a 76 and then came home with a 76 on Tuesday. He had a pair of birdies on both days. His best 9-hole score came on the back 9 on Day 2 when he fired a 1-over 36.

UP NEXT: Concordia will up the competition level next weekend when they compete in the St. John's Fall Invitational on Sept. 17-18. The opening round will be played at the St. Cloud CC, with the final round at the Greystone GC.