LAKE CITY, MINN. --
JJ Cooney shot a program-NCAA DII best 140 (71-69) and won a two-hole playoff to claim his first individual title while leading the University of Sioux Falls Men's Golf Team to a third place finish at the Watkins Invitational, which concluded today at the Jewel Golf Club.
The Cougars, which had career-best marks from Cooney,
Jack Evans,
Blake Berry and
Nathan Woodall, carded a USF DII-program-best two-round total of 583. USF not only carded the best second day total at the tournament but set a program 18-hole round mark with a 285. The Cougars opened with a 298 and then came in with a three-under par total of 285 to finish third with a seven-over par 583. The Cougars finished only behind team champion Winona State, which had an eight-under 568 (278-290), and second place Washburn at 573 (287-286). The third place finish was the team's top overall mark since taking third this past spring at the Upper Iowa Spring Invite on March 30-31, 2019.
Cooney, a three-time All-NSIC performer from Pickstown, S.D., was named USF's Player to Watch in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll and showed it at the Watkins Invitational. He won the tournament in a two-hole playoff with Dylan Brown (68-72) and Brady Madsen (66-74), who also finished with a four-under par total of 140. In setting the DII-program low, Cooney bettered the mark of fellow senior and teammate
Brenden Bassing, who carded a 141 (73-68) at the Bemidji State Invite on Sept. 11-12, 2017. In fact, Cooney improved his two-round best by five shots as he had a 145 (70-75) at the NSIC Preview Invite on April 5-6, 2019 at Shoal Creek in Kansas City, Mo.
USF was able to set the program's best single round and two-round totals because every member of the team improved their scores from day one to day two. Aside from Cooney, sophomore
Jack Evans had a career-best two-round total of 145 (75-70) to finish in a tie for ninth. He finished one over par after rounds of 75 and 70.
"I am incredibly proud of how the men approached the golf course today," said USF Head Men's Golf Coach
Tavia Rutherford. "They all bought into our team strategy and game plan. Shooting the team low for the day and having
JJ Cooney win a two-hole playoff for the title of champion golfer was phenomenal to be a part of. These men are all committed to breaking records and I'm excited to see what their future holds. We are looking to carry this momentum into Bemidji these next few days," she said.
Senior
Blake Berry also made substantial improvement from day one as he moved up seven spots to a tie for 16
th by following his opening day 75 with a career-best round of 72 and a three-over par total of 147. Berry's total was an improvement of his previous best mark by 12 shots. He shot a previous best of 159 (79-80) at the Augustana Invitational on Sept. 29-30, 2018.
Sophomore
Nathan Woodall was another team member who shattered his previous best two-round total. He finished in a tie for 20
th with a four-over par total of 148 (75-73), which bettered his previous mark of 157 (76-81) at the BSU Invitational on Sept. 10, 2018. He opened with a 75 and closed at 73, which bettered his previous best round of 75 at the NSIC Preview Invitational on April 6, 2019.
Both junior
Jacob Zosel and senior
Brenden Bassing improved from day one totals to aid USF's cause. They both carded 152s and earned ties at 33
rd. Bassing, who opened with a 79, shot a 73 on day two and finished eight over par while moving up 16 spots. Zosel opened with a 77 and had a 75 on day two for his eight-over par total.
The top 10 in the team standings (15 total teams) included: 1. Winona State, 568 (278-290); 2. Washburn, 573 (287-286); 3. Sioux Falls, 583 (298-285); 4. Minnesota State B, 598 (296-302); 5. Concordia-St. Paul, 603 (307-296); 6. Winona State B, 604 (299-305); 7. Missouri Western State, 6-5 (308-297); 8. Minnesota State, 6-6 (309-297); 9. Bemidji State, 611 (309-302); 10. Upper Iowa, 614 (312-302).
Next for USF will be a trip to Bemidji, Minn., to play at the Bemidji State Invitational on Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 9-10.
