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BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Becerra wins title on third playoff hole; BU finishes second

Sophomore Andre Becerra fired a 4-over 75 in Wednesday's second round and is currently tied for 75th place in the 156-player field.
Sophomore Andre Becerra fired a 4-over 75 in Wednesday's second round and is currently tied for 75th place in the 156-player field.

WAVERLY, Iowa -- Andre Becerra won a three-hole playoff against teammate Fernando Arzate to win the NSAA Golfer of the Year Award and help the Bellevue University men's golf team to a second place finish at the 2017-18 North Star Athletic Association Men's Golf Tournament.

Bellevue shaved nine strokes of first place University Jamestown's lead but were unable to overcome the Jimmies big lead.

Jamestown placed third on the day but did enough to take home the individual team title and secure the NSAA's automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament to be played at the TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. from May 15-18.

Andre Becerra and Fernando Arzate both carded 1-under rounds to finish in a tie for first place at 4-over (292) for the tournament to force the playoff. Jacob Rice finished a distant third with a four-round total of 299 (+11) after entering the day just two shots back of the Bruin duo. For his efforts Arzate earned first team all-NSAA honors.

Monday and Tuesday's rounds were a continuation of the fall portion of the tournament which was played on Sept. 25-26 at the Bully Pulpit Golf Course in Medora, N.D.

BU shot a 3-over round of 291 in the fourth round at the 6,126-yard Prairie Links Golf Course in Waverly, Iowa to ensure their second place finish.

Following a strong final round, Valley City State slipped ahead of Viterbo (4th) and into a third place finish. Waldorf placed fifth with Dickinson State rounding out the field.

Inaki Aldao fired a final round score of 73 to finish at 23-over in 12th place. Lautaro Marzilio recorded a final round 76 to finish a stroke behind Aldao in 13th place. Juan Gomez scored an 83 in the fourth round to finish in a tie for 14th at 25-over.

Final Tournament Team Standings:

  1. Jamestown -- +37, 1,189
  2. Bellevue -- +46, 1,198
  3. Valley City State -- +79, 1,231
  4. Viterbo -- +86, 1,238
  5. Waldorf -- +102, 1,254
  6. Dickinson State -- +203, 1,355