Bellevue holds onto fifth at Kyle Blaser Invite
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- The Bellevue University men's golf team concluded play at the Kyle Blaser Invitational, maintaining their position to finish in fifth place as the tournament wrapped up at the 7,255-yard, par 72 Gaillardia Country Club.
Due to weather conditions, the event was shortened from the originally scheduled 54 holes to a 36-hole competition.
Host Oklahoma City (+15) surged to the top of the team leaderboard to claim the title, overtaking first-round leader USAO (+21) by six strokes. MidAmerica Nazarene (+44) and Southwestern Christian (+59) took third and fourth, respectively, followed by Bellevue (+64) in fifth. Morningside (+65) and Sterling (+74) rounded out the field.
Oklahoma City's Cameron Bozyk took home individual honors, firing a 6-under 66 in the final round to finish at 2-under for the tournament. He edged out MidAmerica Nazarene's Josh Killingsworth, who finished at 1-under.
Thomas Gatlin maintained top finisher status for the Bruins, ending the tournament in a tie for 16th place at 12-over (156). Gatlin carded a final round 9-over 81, a round highlighted by birdies on the 204-yard, par three No. 4 and the 245-yard, par three No. 9.
Kyle Dale finished in a tie for 20th overall at 16-over (160) for the tournament. Dale matched Gatlin's final round 81, finding success on the 440-yard, par four No. 1 and the 556-yard, par five No. 6 with birdies, while adding nine pars to his scorecard.
Randy Christiansen moved into a tie for 23rd place after carding the Bruins' low round of the day, an 8-over 80. Christiansen found a groove on the front nine with birdies on the 345-yard No. 2 and the 562-yard No. 3, ultimately finishing at 17-over (161) for the event.
Dylan Rodgers finished in 27th place at 19-over (163) total after posting a final round 82. Rodgers showed grit on the back nine, carding a birdie on No. 9 and the 468-yard, par four No. 16.
Martin Hempston rounded out the Bellevue lineup in 37th place. He shot a final round 87 to finish at 25-over par (169), with his round highlighted by birdies on the 345-yard, par four No. 2 and No. 6.
Bellevue returns to play next week when they travel to Bullhead City, Ariz. for The Battle at Laughlin Ranch which will take place on Monday-Tuesday, Mar. 23-24 at the Laughlin Ranch Golf Club.
