WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – The North Dakota State Men's golf team sits in the middle of the pack following the opening two rounds of play at the Zach Johnson Invitational on Monday at Glen Oaks Country Club.
Jake Skarperud (71-69—140) was the top Bison for the first two rounds of play. Skarperud was even through the first 18 holes, shooting +2 on the front nine and -2 in the back nine with two birdies and 14 holes at par for the round.
Skarperud continued his momentum into round two and led the Bison once again. The senior fired five birdies and ten pars in the second round to finish at -2 for the round. Skarperud sits in third at -2 overall, just two shots behind the tournament leaders.
Rylin Petry (72-75—147) and
Gabe Benson (72-76—148) finished the first round just one shot behind at +1. Both Petry and Benson picked up five birdies in the opening round, with Petry tallying eight pars and Benson recording 10 pars.
Petry and Benson were the final two NDSU scorers for the second round. Petry picked up two more birdies and 11 pars to finish +4 on the round. Petry sits in a tie for 23
rd at +5 heading into the final round of play. Benson added one more birdie and 12 pars to finish +5 on the round and sits in a tie for 27
th at +6 overall.
Carter White (76-76—152) was the final scoring Bison of the first round. White recorded two birdies in the first 18 holes to finish +5 after round one. In round two, White added four birdies to his total to finish +5 on the round and +10 overall in a tie for 39
th.
Max Wilson (83-73—156) and
Andrew Ballou (73-70—143) also competed for the Bison. Wilson finished the first round +12. Ballou, who is playing as an individual, fired an eagle on the seventh hole and birdies on the 12
th and 16
th to finish +2 after the opening round.
Wilson was the second-best Bison in round two, firing a +2 for the round. Wilson recorded a birdie on the sixth and 14 pars. Wilson sits in a tie for 51
st at +14.
Ballou fired six birdies and eight pars in the second round to finish the round at -1. Ballou climbed 14 spots up the leaderboard and is the second NDSU golfer inside the top 10, sitting in a tie for ninth at +1 overall.
As a team, the Bison (291-293—584) sit in fourth of nine teams in the event. North Dakota (287-281—568) is the leader after the first 36 holes, up four shots on Indian Hills Community College (283-289—572). South Dakota (291-285—576) sits in third heading into the final round of play.
NDSU will wrap up the Zach Johnson Invitational on Tuesday, with a shotgun start scheduled to tee off at 9:00 a.m. CT.
