Muskogee, OK – After the first two rounds of competition at the NSU Classic, the University of Sioux Falls Men's  Golf Team finished 15th by shooting 21-over par with a score 589 (292-297). Gavin Metz and Jack Evans posted top-25 scores to lead the Cougars in their second tournament of the season.
 
USF is just four strokes behind Bemidji State while holding off Missouri Southern State by one stroke. Arkansas Tech leads all teams with their 19-under 549 (277-272) while Central Missouri (-14, 554) and Southern Arkansas (-6, 562) hold second and third, respectively. Arkansas Tech's Santiago De La Fuente carded a 10-under 132 to take the top individual spot while Central Missouri's Nick Westrich holds second place with a six-under 136.
 
USF scores for day 1:
 
A one-under 141 from Metz landed him tied for 19th place through two rounds. Metz sank birdies on the 532-yard hole 5, 418-yard hole 6, 508-yard hole 15, and the 411-yard hole 18 in the first round. The junior also collected 12 pars to finish 2-under par at 69 (35-34) in round one which was tied for the second best round of his career (68, -3, NSIC Men's Golf Championship, 4/16-18/2021, 2nd round). In round two his birdies on the 360-yard hole 1, 415-yard hole 7, 195-yard hole 8 and 213-yard hole 12 combined with his nine pars for a score of 72 (35-37).
 
Evans opened the day with birdies on the 532-yard hole 5, 418-yard hole 6, 195-yard hole 8, and the 411-yard hole 18. Coupled with 12 pars, the senior closed out the round tied for the team lead at a 2-under 69 (34-35) which is his second best individual round of his career (-68, 2 under, 3rd round, The Mule, 4-5/6/21). His second round added another birdie on hole 1 followed by more on holes 14 (339 yards) and 15 (508 yards). His two-over par 73 (40-33) also included 11 pars to place him T24th overall with an even 142.
 
Anthony Cylkowski improved on his six-over 77 (36-38) in round one with a two-over 74 (36-41) on the back of eagles on the 532-yard hole 5 and 518-yard hole 9. The freshman added birdies on the 464-yard hole 10 and the 508-yard hole 15 plus seven pars to close out the round. In the first round Cylkowski sank birdies on holes 9 (518 yards) and 15 (508 yards) in addition to 10 pars that helped him place T75th on the day.
 
Cole Harste carded a six-over 77 (40-37) followed by a seven-over 78 (42-36) in his collegiate debut to place T93rd with a 13-over 155 after the first day. In the first round Harste made 12 pars before sinking 10 in the second round along with a birdie on the 372-yard hole 11.
 
Jake Oetzmann opened the day with seven pars plus birdies on the 423-yard hole 13 and the 508-yard hole 15 for a seven-over 78 (42-36) in round 1. In round two his eight-over 79 (41-38) consisted of a birdie on hole 10 (464 yards) and 10 pars to place him T97th on the day.
 
The NSU Classic will continue tomorrow with the final 18 holes of the tournament. Stay tuned to USFCougars.com and the USF_Athletics Twitter for final results from Muskogee, Oklahoma. Live scoring is also available here.