Bruins close out North Star era with sixth-straight NSAA title
EAGLE, Neb. -- Bruin golfers took the top three spots as the Bellevue University men's golf team finished off a 45-stroke victory in the final North Star Athletic Association Tournament, the 12th conference tournament title in program history.
Cayden Wynne is the eighth different golfer – and 12th overall – in program history to win an individual conference championship. He bested runners-up, and teammates, Dylan Rodgers and Thomas Gatlin by five strokes.
Bellevue shot a 3-over 287 on the afternoon to finish the tournament at 13-under (273), 45 strokes ahead of second place University of Jamestown. Dickinson State University finished third at 76-over following a +32 final round and Mayville State University checked in at fourth with a +31 round on Tuesday. Valley City State University finished a distant fifth at 203-over for the event, following a +54 final round.
The victory secures Bellevue's place in next month's NAIA National Championship. The Bruins will be making their 1tth National Tournament Appearance in the program's 14-year history.
Wynne began the day three strokes back of Gatlin and churned out a 3-under final round to storm to the top of the leaderboard. His four-round total of 277 was good for 9-under for the tournament. He posted a 2-under on the front nine, making birdies on No. 2 and No. 9 before turning in a 1-under back nine. Back-to-back birdies on No. 13 and No. 14 anchored the back with his lone bogey coming on No. 16.
Rodgers posted a 4-over 75 and Gatlin carded a 5-over 76 as the duo finished tied for second at 4-under with 72-hole totals of 282. Rodgers made both of his birdies on the back nine (No. 10, No. 17) while Gatlin made an Eagle on No. 15 and added a birdie on No. 18.
Jamestown's Max Noffsinger and Gehrig Geiss rounded out the top five with scores of 3-over and 5-over, respectively. Both finished strong with 2-over 73s on the final day of competition.
Kyle Dale posted a 2-under 69 on Tuesday, bogeying just two holes and making birdies on four others. Totte Uhlan shot a 4-over 75, including three birdies and nine pars. Neither golfer competed in the first two rounds during the fall and do not qualify for the individual leaderboard.
Satchel Tickel was the top finisher for Mayville State. He shot a 2-over 73 on Tuesday to finish the tournament in sixth place at 6-over (292).
Blake Barner was the top finisher for Dickinson State. He also carded a 2-over 73 on Tuesday as he finished the tournament at 12-over (298) in eighth place.
Owen Haase was the top finisher for Valley City State. He posted a 9-over 80 on Tuesday, finishing tied for 10th overall at 22-over (308).
Bellevue next competes at the NAIA National Championship, being played Tuesday-Friday, May 20-23 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.
NSAA Golfer of the Year
Cayden Wynne, Bellevue
NSAA Coach of the Year
Rob Brown, Bellevue
First Team All-NSAA
Cayden Wynne, Bellevue
Dylan Rodgers, Bellevue
Thomas Gatlin, Bellevue
Max Noffsinger, Jamestown
Gehrig Geiss, Jamestown
Satchel Tickel, Mayville State
Bodie Williams, Jamestown
Second Team All-NSAA
Blake Barner, Dickinson State
Trevor Berry, Dickinson State
Owen Haase, Valley City
Damian Pokrzywinski, Mayville State
Masen Nowacki, Mayville State
Aidan Hall, Jamestown
Jayce Johnson, Dickinson State
NSAA Champion of Character
