MESA, Ariz. -- Three Bruins broke par in Thursday's third round of the 2023 NAIA Men's Golf National Championships as the Bellevue University men's golf team moved up three spots to 12th place in the team race. The four-day, 72-hole tournament is being played at the 7,004-yard, par-72 Las Sendas Golf Club.
The Bruins shot a team score of 3-under par 285, improving their second-round score by 22 strokes. BU shot the best team score on the day and was one of only three teams to finish the third round under par.
Bellevue is now 25-over par (297-307-285) for the tournament after 54 holes.
Keiser University holds a five-stroke lead in the team race at 2-over par (282-292-292)
The University of Victoria (BC) and the University of British Columbia are tied for second at 7-over par.
Rodrigo Navarrete was 3-under par on the back nine, finishing his round with a 2-under par score of 70. He is 8-over par for the tournament, putting him in a tie for 46th place. Navarrete's round was highlighted by four birdies, including three on the back nine.
Floris-Jan Oosterhof fired a 2-under par 70. He is 7-over par for the tournament and in a tie for 41st place. Oosterhof's round was sparked by an eagle on the par-5, 570-yard second hole. He also had four birdies in his round.
Hugo Ronnberg is currently in a three-way tie for second place overall in the individual standings after posting his third-straight round of under-par golf. He registered a 1-under 71 and is 4-under par for the tournament. Ronnberg collected three birdies and 13 pars in the third round.
Ronnberg trails individual leader Robin Conlan of the University of Victoria (BC) by two strokes. Conlan is 6-under par with rounds of 68, 71, and 71.
Alex Zillig shot his best round of the tournament with a 2-over 74. He is 14-over par for the tournament and in a tie for 70th place. Zillig had two birdies and 12 pars in the third round.
Rounding out the day for the Bruins was Duncan Howie, who shot a 10-over 82 in his first action in the National Tournament.
Friday's fourth and final round will begin with a 9 a.m. start time.
