Gatlin paces Bruins to 14th-place finish at The Battle
BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. -- Thomas Gatlin earned a top-five finish to pace the Bellevue University men's golf team to a 14th-place finish in the 20-team field as the Bruins concluded play at The Battle at Laughlin Ranch on Tuesday.
The 54-hole tournament was played at the 7,055-yard, par-72 Laughlin Ranch Golf Club.
Bellevue posted a 19-over-par final round (307) to end the event at 53-over-par (917). Top-ranked Keiser captured the team title at 15-over par, edging out No. 25 Hastings and No. 12 Texas Wesleyan, who tied for second place at 21-over par.
MidAmerica Nazarene's Patrick Neal captured individual medalist honors, finishing the tournament at 4-under par (212). Hastings' Henry Kosmicki and Wayland Baptist's Sacha Brendle shared second place at 2-under par (214).
Gatlin paced the Bruins, tying for fifth place in the 100-golfer field at 1-over par (73-69-75 = 217). He carded a 3-over 75 in the final round, rolling in nine pars and converting birdies on the 608-yard, par-5 first, 505-yard, par-5 eighth, and 314-yard, par-4 16th holes.
Dylan Rodgers tied for 22nd place at 7-over par (78-70-75 = 223). He shot a 3-over 75 on Tuesday, highlighted by a steady even-par 36 on his back nine. During his final round, he tallied a team-high 12 pars and sank a birdie on the 446-yard, par-4 14th hole.
Kyle Dale claimed 74th place at 22-over par (79-79-80 = 238) after shooting an 8-over 80 in his final round. He compiled eight pars on the day and secured a pair of birdies on the 288-yard, par-4 second and 363-yard, par-4 12th holes.
Randy Christiansen tied for 75th place at 23-over par (83-79-77 = 239). Firing a 5-over 77 to close out his tournament, he registered seven pars and sank an impressive four birdies, converting on the 288-yard, par-4 second, 505-yard, par-5 eighth, 363-yard, par-4 12th, and 446-yard, par-4 14th holes.
Martin Hempston rounded out the lineup in 96th place at 38-over par (87-81-86 = 254). He recorded seven pars during his final round, including a steady string of four consecutive pars on the back nine from holes 13 through 16.
Bellevue Individual Results
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t-5th - Thomas Gatlin: 73-69-75 = 217 (+1)
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t-22nd - Dylan Rodgers: 78-70-75 = 223 (+7)
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74th - Kyle Dale: 79-79-80 = 238 (+22)
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t-75th - Randy Christiansen: 83-79-77 = 239 (+23)
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96th - Martin Hempston: 87-81-86 = 254 (+38)
Up Next
The Bruins will travel to Manhattan, Kan., on April 6-7 to compete in the Midwest National Spring Invitational at Colbert Hills Golf Course.
