LAKE CITY, MN - After sitting 11th at the end of the first day the University of Sioux Falls Men's Golf team put together its second best round of the season and finished in a sixth place tie in the team standings at the Watkins Invitational. The Cougars followed their 26-over par 314 on day one with the fourth best team score in the final round, a seven-over 295. The 33-over 609 from USF placed them in a tie with Upper Iowa to close the tournament. 

Winona State took the victory while hosting the tournament, their four-under par 572 easily held off second place Missouri Western's nine-over 585. Dawson Wills of Washburn posted a five-under 139 for the individual win with Winona State's Brady Holland only two strokes behind in second.

Jack Evans performance highlighted the Cougars rise with his back-to-back rounds of one-over 73. His two-over 146 placed him in a tie for 7th overall in the tournament. The senior carded 11 pars in the first round along with birdies on the 312-yard hole 6, the 511-yard hole 9, and the 446-yard hole 12. In the second round he added 12 more pars and birdied on the 437-yard hole 14, the 211-yard hole 15, the 450-yard hole 18 and hole 6 again. In total Evans collected seven birdies and 23 pars. 

Gavin Metz improved after his first round eight-over 80 by posting USF's lowest score of the tournament, an even par 72. His eight-over 152 tied him for 25th at the Watkins Invitational. Round one included 11 pars and birdies on the 511-yard hole 9 and the 425-yard hole 10 for the junior. Metz final round featured seven pars and six total birdies: 312-yard hole 6, 163-yard hole 7, 497-yard hole 8, 446-yard 12, 437-yard hole 14, and 542-yard hole 16. In total he collected 18 pars and eight birdies. 

Cole Harste continued to improve in his freshman campaign by posting a 12-over 156 (80-76) that landed him T41st overall. In the first round he recorded 12 pars followed by 14 more plus a birdie on the 542-yard hole 16 in the final round. 

Anthony Cylkowski placed T47th with his 13-over 157 (81-76). He collected 18 pars in total with 11 in the first round and seven in the second. Cylkowski's second round also included five birdies: the 424-yard hole 2, the 312-yard hole 6, the 497-yard hole 8, the 437-yard hole 14 and the 211-yard hole 15. 

Jake Oetzmann tied for 64th with a 19-over 163 (89-74). After his eight first round pars he added another nine plus birdies on four holes: 584-yard hole 1, 511-yard hole 9, 446-yard hole 12 and 450-yard hole 18. Oetzmann totaled 17 pars and four birdies in the event. 

Nathan Woodall played as an individual entry and tied for 36th overall with an 11-over 155. In round one he carded 10 pars and a birdie on the 497-yard hole 8. Woodall added another 12 pars in the final round plus birdies on the 424-yard hole 2 and 511-yard hole 9. In total he posted 22 pars and three birdies. 

"We weren't satisfied with our scores on the first day." said Head Coach Wade Merry, "We pushed ourselves to improve in the final round and it showed."

The Cougars improved by 19 strokes from the first to second round, noted Merry. 

"It was also great to see Cole Harste improving and getting used to the college level. Our team confidence is high, we're ready to finish the fall season strong," added Merry.

The Cougars will play their next tournament in St. Joseph, MO at the MWSU Holiday Inn Express Invitational on October 11-12.