BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Hugo Ronnberg holds a one-stroke lead on teammate Alex Zillig atop the individual leaderboard and the No. 4-ranked Bellevue University men's golf team is 18 strokes ahead of second place Dickinson State University in the team standings after one round of play at the 2023 North Star Athletic Association Men's Golf Championship.
The Bruins shot 301 (+13) as a team to the Blue Hawks' (+31) mark of 319 amid very windy conditions at the 6,638–yard, par-72 Platteview Golf Club.
Bellevue's hosting the NSAA Tournament for the third time overall and second time at Platteview Country Club. The Bruins previously won the 2016 and 2019 editions of the tournament held at Wilderness Ridge and Platteview, respectively.
Ronnberg shot a 1-over 73 in the first round on the strength of three birdies and an eagle on No. 2 to offset six bogeys. Zillig birdied a pair of holes and added an eagle on No. 7 to finish the day with a 2-over 74.
Hugo Brandt and Floris-Jan Oosterhof were the third and fourth golfers for Bellevue, carding scores of 76 (+4) and 78 (+6). Brandt finds himself tied for third with Waldorf's Thomas Houdayer and Oosterhof rounds out the top five.
Rodrigo Navarrete shot a 7-over 79 and is among a four-way tie for sixth place.
In the team portion of the event, BU owns an 18-stroke lead over second place Dickinson State. Waldorf is in third at 48-over (336) with Viterbo lurking in fourth at 61-over (349). Valley City (401) and Dakota State (415) round out the field.
The top seven individuals will earn first team all-conference honors and will be honored following tomorrow's second round.
Second round play from Platteview Country Club begins tomorrow with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
