By: Logan Anderson
LARCHWOOD, Iowa – The University of Sioux Falls men's golf team captured the USF Invitational championship following two rounds of competition at The Falls Golf Course on October 12-13. The Cougars' A team claimed first place with a two-round score of 581 (+5), while the B team added a fourth-place finish at 592 (+16), giving Sioux Falls two teams inside the top four of the 11-team field.
Ty Lenards led the Cougars individually, tying for fourth at even-par 144, while Ryan Nutter, Jadan Ford and Luke Ehlers each tied for sixth at 145 (+1). Sioux Falls placed five golfers inside the top 10 and nine inside the top 25. The C team recorded a 621 (+45), while the D team finished 11th at 638 (+62).
Tournament Snapshot
- Top Cougar Finish: Ty Lenards – T4, 144 (E)
- Lowest Round: Ryan Nutter – 69 (-3), Round 1
- Team Best Round: A Team – 290 (+2), Round 1
- Tournament Champion: Sioux Falls A Team – 581 (+5)
- Number of Teams: 11
How It Happened
Sioux Falls opened the tournament with a strong showing from its A team, combining for a 290 (+2) in the first round. Nutter set the pace with a three-under 69, while Lenards added a one-under 71. Ford and Charlie Hanson each contributed rounds of 75 (+3) to complete the opening-round scoring.
The Cougars followed with a 291 (+3) in the final round, highlighted by Ford's two-under 70 and Hanson's even-par 72. Lenards added a 73 (+1), while Nutter closed with a 76 (+4), securing the team championship.
USF's B team also made its presence felt, opening with a 295 (+7) behind matching one-under 71s from Ehlers and Noah Teeter. The group followed with a 297 (+9) to finish fourth overall. The C team posted rounds of 306 (+18) and 315 (+27) for a 621 (+45), while the D team recorded rounds of 316 (+28) and 322 (+34) for a 638 (+62).
Top Cougar Performers
Lenards paced Sioux Falls with rounds of 71 and 73 to finish tied for fourth at 144 (E). Nutter followed closely, firing the lowest round by a Cougar during the tournament with his opening-round 69 (-3) before finishing tied for sixth at 145 (+1).
Ford joined Nutter in sixth after improving five strokes between rounds, following an opening 75 with a two-under 70. Ehlers led the B team with rounds of 71 and 74 to also finish tied for sixth, while Teeter added a top-10 finish of his own, tying for ninth at 146 (+2). Hanson rounded out the A team's leading performances with a T-11 finish at 147 (+3).
Hayden Tenopir highlighted the B team's final round with a 73 (+1), improving four strokes from his opening 77 to finish tied for 20th. Carter Peterson followed at T-22 with rounds of 76 and 75.
Jaden Solheim led the C team, tying for 22nd at 151 (+7), while Justin Orn and Dawson Ringler each improved their scores in the final round with matching 76s. Harrison Seeman paced the D team with a T-31 finish at 154 (+10), while Lane Arends tied for 37th at 156 (+12).
Cougar Scorecard
Team A – 1st, 581 (+5)
Ty Lenards – T4 – 71-73 – 144 (E)
Ryan Nutter – T6 – 69-76 – 145 (+1)
Jadan Ford – T6 – 75-70 – 145 (+1)
Charlie Hanson – T11 – 75-72 – 147 (+3)
Will Peterson – T52 – 78-81 – 159 (+15)
Team B – 4th, 592 (+16)
Luke Ehlers – T6 – 71-74 – 145 (+1)
Noah Teeter – T9 – 71-75 – 146 (+2)
Hayden Tenopir – T20 – 77-73 – 150 (+6)
Carter Peterson – T22 – 76-75 – 151 (+7)
Hayden Heig – T37 – 78-78 – 156 (+12)
Team C – 621 (+45)
Jaden Solheim – T22 – 74-77 – 151 (+7)
Justin Orn – T34 – 79-76 – 155 (+11)
Dawson Ringler – T37 – 80-76 – 156 (+12)
Nathan Schuver – T52 – 73-86 – 159 (+15)
Liam Dufner – 64th – 83-89 – 172 (+28)
Team D – 11th, 638 (+62)
Harrison Seeman – T31 – 75-79 – 154 (+10)
Lane Arends – T37 – 76-80 – 156 (+12)
Palmer Dalton – 56th – 82-80 – 162 (+18)
Gabe Norberg – 63rd – 83-88 – 171 (+27)
Ethan Schwankl – 65th – 98-83 – 181 (+37)
Coach's Corner
"Really proud of our men's team. We got off to a really good start, then hung on to finish ahead of a really good Winona team. With one tournament left this fall, we can't be content to just show up and play. We have to build off this and keep getting better."
-Head Coach, Wade Merry
Up Next
The Men's Golf Team will wrap up the fall season next week when they head down south to Joplin, Missouri for the Missouri Southern State Fall Invite.
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