SIOUX FALLS – Kicking off the second annual Cougar Cup match play, University of Sioux Falls Men's Golf opened up a 6-2 lead over crosstown rival Augustana on Saturday at the Elmwood Golf Course. Playing eight matches on the first day, the third round and final eight points will be up for grabs on Sunday, April 23 at The Country Club of Sioux Falls with eight individual matches. In match play, one point is awarded to the individual or team who recorded the lowest score on that hole.
The morning matches were played in the four ball format, where each golfer – two from each team – plays their own ball and the best score among each set of teammates is chosen. The afternoon matches were played as modified Chapman matches, where each golfer tees off and the players hit their tee shots and the players switch balls before playing their next shot – except on par threes – and play alternate shot for the rest of the hole. USF won three matches in each session to take their four-match advantage into the final round on Sunday.
In the best ball format,
Ben Loosbrock and
Brett Korn won the first match of the day, recording a one-up victory – a one-hole advantage after all 18 holes were played. Augustana evened the team score, winning the second match 2 & 1 – holding a two-point lead with one hole remaining.
Jonathon Cooney and
Blake Berry then gave the Cougars the lead with a two-up victory in the third match and
Derek Dillon and
Ben Prisbe capped off the morning session with a one-up victory in the match No. 4.
Swithing up formats and pairings didn't faze the Cougars as they won three of the four afternoon matches, and all three victories came before reaching the 18th hole. Loosbrock and
Brenden Bassing cruised to their session-opening win with a 5 & 4 victory, holding a five-hole lead with four holes remaining. Augustana won the second match of the afternoon, defeating Dillon and Berry in one-up fashion. Cooney and
Grant Kolb combined to take a 3 & 2 victory in the third match and Korn and Prisbe secured the third win of the afternoon in 2 & 1 fashion.
