Strong MIAC Start For Stromme & Cobbs

JORDAN, Minn. (10/06/19)---Rain and inclement weather forced the postponement of the first day of the MIAC Championship Meet at the Ridges at Sand Creek GC but it couldn't dampen the success of Cobber senior Gage Stromme who entered the conference meet having won two of his last three tournaments.

Stromme started the delayed MIAC meet by posting a 1-over 73 on Sunday and is tied for the individual lead after 18 holes of play. Stromme's play also helped the Cobbers end the opening day in a tie for second place in the team standings.

Concordia had their four players who factored in the team scoring all finish below 79 and recorded a total of 305. They are four strokes off the team lead and tied with two other schools in second place.

The 305 scored by the Cobbers is the lowest opening round score at the MIAC Meet since the tournament moved to the Ridges at Sand Creek GC in 2017.  

Stromme, who tied for medalist honors at last weekend's Twin Cities Classic which featured all of the top MIAC players, went out in even-par 36 and then returned in 37. Stromme birdies his first and fifth holes and was 2-under after five holes. He finished his front 9 by going bogey, birdie, bogey and bogey. He then birdied his first hole on the back side before finishing the final eight holes with a pair of bogeys.

The 73 carded by Stromme is his lowest in an opening round at the MIAC Meet in his career and matches his lowest round ever at the conference tournament. He fired a 73 in the second round in last year's tournament when he finished in a tie for 11th place.  

Junior Mason Opheim was the team's No.2 finisher on the opening day. He posted a 76. Opheim was 1-over heading into the ninth hole but then had his only major hiccup of the day with a double bogey on No.9. Like Stromme, he birdied the 10th hole. Opheim also birdied the 18th hole but had bogeys on 11, 12 and 13.

Senior Blake Kahlbaugh and junior Tyler Bossert were the final two members of the Cobbers' scoring team. Both players fired a 78. Kahlbaugh had identical 39s on each side while Bossert started slow with a 42 on the front 9 but then came home in even-par 36.

Nate Longtin was the final player on Concordia's tournament squad and recorded a 79.

UP NEXT: Concordia will finish off the MIAC Championship Meet by playing 36 holes on Monday, Oct. 7. The Cobbers will start their first 18 holes when they tee off at 8 a.m. on holes No.9 through No.11.