KANSAS CITY – With both
Jacob Zosel and
JJ Cooney finishing in the top-20 among individuals, the University of Sioux Falls Men's Golf Team sits tied for fifth in the team standings after the first of three rounds at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championship at Shoal Creek Golf Course. USF and the other teams will begin the second round on Friday at 9 a.m.
After shooting a program-best three straight sub 300 rounds coming into the tourney, the Cougars opened the NSIC with a solid first round at the NSIC Meet by carding a 29 over par 313. Winona State leads the team standings at nine over par 293 with Bemidji State second at 16 over par 300 and followed by Concordia St. Paul and Minnesota State tied for third with 20 over par 304 rounds. USF, which was eighth a year ago, is fifth with a 29 over par 313. After USF, Upper Iowa is sixth with a 32 over par 316 and following by Minot State, 33 over par, 317; St. Cloud State, 37 over par, 321; Augustana 41 over par 325 and Minnesota Crookston at 48 over par and 332. The individual leader is Lukas Bigger of Minnesota State, who carded an even par round of 71.
Zosel led USF, which had eight total birdies and 44 par rounds among its five players, by shooting a six over par 77 (39-38) and is tied for 17th. Zosel, who was ninth at the 2018 championship meet, had birdies on hole 10 and came in with 10 pars. He opened at 39 and closed with a 38 for his 77.
Junior
JJ Cooney, a two-time All-NSIC performer who was sixth in at the 2018 conference meet, had a solid first round as well with a seven over par 78 (37-41), which placed him in a tied for 20th place. He opened with a 37 and closed at 41 while carding birdies on holes seven and 13 and recording nine pars.
Junior
Brenden Bassing and freshman
Jack Evans both finished tied for 23
rd at 24 over par and 79. Bassing, who finished sixth at the NSIC Preview Meet, opened with a 39 and closed at 40 for his 79. He carded birdies on the third and 16
th holes and added six pars.
Evans had a strong first day at his first-ever NSIC meet. He was tied for 23
rd after opening with a 37 and following with a 42 to finish at 79 for the day. He opened the meet with a birdie on hole one and later had another on 16 while shooting nine pars.
Sophomore Jacob Oetzmann was tied for 34
th with an 11 over par 82. He had a birdie on hole 17 and registered nine pars.
