Apr. 10, 2006

MANKATO, Minn. (Mankato Golf Club) - Behind an eighth place finish by Neil Rude, the Bemidji State University men’s golf team finished fifth out of 11 teams at the Minnesota State Invitational at the par-71 Mankato Golf Club in Mankato, Minn., Monday.

Rude, a junior from Red Lake Falls, Minn., carded a 76-76=152 as the Beavers combined to shoot a 312-324=636, five strokes behind fourth place St. Cloud State (317-314=631).

At the midway point of the 36-hole event, the Beavers sat knotted with the University of South Dakota for third place, just six shots behind Northern Sun Conference foe Winona State University but turned in the fifth-best second round team mark (324) settling into fifth place.

Host Minnesota State won the event firing a 302-309-611 to finish four strokes ahead of Winona State. Troy Merritt of Winona State took home medallist honors shooting a 69-76-145.

BSU will be back in action tomorrow when they participate in the Maverick Invitational also hosted by Minnesota State at the Mankato Gold Club in Mankato, Minn.

Team Results (Final):
1. Minnesota State - 302-309=611
2. Winona State - 306-309=615
3. Minnesota-Crookston - 320-309=629
4. St. Cloud State - 317-314=631
5. Bemidji State - 312-324=636
6. South Dakota - 312-328=640
7. Augustana - 322-322=644
8. Upper Iowa - 318-329=647
9. North Dakota - 330-328=658
10. Wayne State (Neb.) 336-340=676
11. Concordia-St. Paul - 350-361=711

Bemidji State Team Participants:
T-8. Neil Rude 76-76=152
T-16. Al Zutz 80-79=159
T-24. Clint Cornell 77-84=161
T-41. Michael Abrahamson 79-86=165
T-47. Jeff Peltier 85-85-168

Bemidji State Individual Participants:
T-13. Mitchell Mackedanz 78-80=158
T-26. Jared Stull 85-77=162
T-34. Ryan Smith 78-85=163
T-49. Adam McArthur 86-83=169
T-54. Tyler Hirth 83-88=171

-bsu-