Gatlin's record day sees BU widen lead at NSAA Championship

CARRINGTON, N.D. -- Thomas Gatlin fired a program record 8-under round, shooting a program record-matching 64, to move the No. 24 Bellevue University men's golf team 18 strokes ahead after two rounds of play in the 2024-25 North Star Athletic Association Men's Golf Championship.

The tournament's first two rounds were played at the 6,855-yard, par 72 CrossRoads Golf Club.

Bellevue began the day five strokes up before the Bruins shot 19-under as a team to widen their lead to 18 ahead of second place University of Jamestown. Through 36 holes, the Bruins are at 26-under (550) while the Jimmies have shot 8-under 568.

Mayville State University, at 13-over (589), has moved a stroke ahead of Dickinson State University which is 14-over (590) halfway through the tournament. Valley City State University rounds out the field at 70-over with a score of 646.

The Bruins broke a school record with their 19-under round, besting a pair of 17-under marks; originally set at the 2012 U.C. Ferguson Classic (3^rd round) and matched at the 2022 U.C. Ferguson Classic (2^nd round). Bellevue's second round 269 was just two strokes off a program record 267 at the aforementioned U.C. Ferguson Classics, though those were both Par 71s.

Bruin golfers occupy the top three spots in the individual standings. Gatlin is the overall leader at 13-under (131) while Cayden Wynne and defending champion Dylan Rodgers are tied for second at 8-under (136) apiece.

Gatlin's 8-under 64 saw him separate himself, moving five strokes ahead of his teammates. He finished the day with eagles on No. 13 and 15 to go along with five birdies (No. 3, 4, 6, 12, 16). His 31 (-5) on the back nine is the best of the tournament thus far.

Wynne matched the previous single round record to-par record with a 7-under (65) performance. He sprung into a tie for second after beginning the day tied for sixth place. Wynne birdied seven holes on the day, including back-to-back efforts on No. 3-4, 9-10, and 14-15 along with No. 1 while not recording a single bogey.

Rodgers, who began the day tied with Gatlin, carded a 3-under 69 second round. His round was highlighted by five birdies (No. 4, 7, 9, 10, 15) as he shot under par on both the front (-2, 34) and back (-1, 35).

Randy Christiansen jumped five spots in the individual standings to move into a tie for 11^th with an even-par 72. Through two rounds he is now 4-over (148). He birdied a pair of holes in a 3-over front nine before registering a trio of birdies in a 3-under back nine.

Ludwig Klingspor climbed six places on the leaderboard into a tie for 15^th with a 1-under 71. He is 5-over (149) through 36 holes of play. He fired a 1-under 35 on the front, with back-to-back birdies on No. 6 and No. 7, and an even par back nine highlighted by a birdie on No. 14.

The final two rounds of the 72-hole tournament will be played in the spring on Monday-Tuesday, Apr. 28-29 at Woodland Hills Golf Course in Eagle, Neb.