IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Sam Johnson and Dylan Rodgers each improved on their first round scores and the Bellevue University men's golf team tied for sixth place at The Verhille Invitational, hosted by Mount Mercy University.
Park University rallied from five strokes back to edge host Mount Mercy for the team title. The Pirates shot 8-over (296) on the day to finish 22-over and as the Mustangs shot 15-over (303) on Wednesday for a two-day score of 24-over.
Bellevue finished sixth as a team. The Bruins shot 29-over (317) on the day to finish at 49-over for the event, held at the 6,856-yard, par 72 Finkbine Golf Course.
After beginning the day in fourth, Gabe Escalera climbed three spots to win the individual title by four strokes over runner's up Gavin Dines (Baker) and Theo Baker (Mount Mercy). Escalera shot a second round-best 1-under on the day for a 36-hole total of 143 (-1).
Totte Uhlan and Sam Johnson co-led the Bruin team on Wednesday with matching 6-over scores of 78. Uhlan finished tied for 14th at 9-over and Johnson checked in a 14-over in a tie for 32nd place.
Cayden Wynne tied for 24th at 12-over after shooting a second round 80.
Dylan Rodgers carded a second round 81 (+9) to finish at 20-over. Randy Christiansen was 15-over (87) on the day as he finished with a score of 20-over as well. Rodgers and Christiansen finished in a logjam for 48th place.
Bellevue's top individual finisher was Nathan Ishaya who shot 82 (+10) on the day to finish in a tie for 12th place at 8-over for the tournament. He was one of two Bruins golfing as an individual at the event. Hugo Brandt carded a second round 83 to finish at 17-over, good for 40th place.
Bellevue next competes in the North Star Athletic Association Championships at the La Crosse Country Club in Onalaska, Wis. on Monday-Tuesday, Apr. 29-30.
