POLK CITY, Iowa -- Paced by first round co-leaders Andre Becerra and Rodrigo Navarette the Bellevue University men's golf team is a comfortable eight-strokes ahead of second place Morningside College after one round of play at the 36-hole Grand View Viking Classic.
The Course:
The Grand View Viking Classic is being played at the Tournament Club of Iowa from the Palmer Tees and is set up as a 6,516-yard par 71.
Team Recap:
Three Bruins shot under par to help BU to a first day score of 280 (-4), eight shots ahead of second place Morningside (288, +4).
Bellevue and Morningside each had all four scoring golfers shoot 1-over or better on the day to create separation with third place Mount Mercy (296, +12) – the only other team to shoot under 300 in the first round.
Des Moines Area Community College (301, +17) and Doane (302, +18) round out the top five.
Individual Recap:
Andre Becerra and Rodrigo Navarette each shot a 2-under 69 in Monday's first round and enter Tuesday's action as co-leaders.
Becerra led the field with six birdies while bogeying four holes.
Navarette, who played a little more consistently, recorded four birdies, one double-bogey, and hit par on the other 13 holes.
In addition to Becerra and Navarette, Lautaro Marzilio is currently tied for third after joining his teammates under par with a first round 70 (-1).
Mount Mercy's William Bruyeres was the only other golfer under par on the day. He's tied with Marzilio at 1-under after recording a first round 70.
Four golfers – Sam Storey (Morningside), Cameron Cross (Ottawa), Roger Sack (Doane), and Corey Matthew (Morningside) – shot an even-par 71.
Juan Pablo Gomez, tied for ninth, was Bellevue's fourth scoring golfer with a 1-over 72 on the day.
Alex Zillig, filling out the lineup, concluded play with a 6-over 77. He's currently tied for 24th place.
Marzilio and Zillig each birdied three holes and Gomez birdied one.
Bruins Competing as Individuals:
The Bruins have three golfers competing as individuals in the tournament. Floris-Jan Oosterhof is tied for 16th after he carded a first round 74 (+3) to pace the trio.
Evan Macke and Lucas Leinen shot 77 (+6) and 81 (+10), respectively in the first 18 holes. Macke is tied with Zillig in 24th while Leinen is in a tie for 45th in the 62-golfer field.
Up Next:
Bellevue will conclude play at the Viking Classic tomorrow with the second and final round. Tee time is scheduled for 9 a.m.
