Bulldogs place sixth, Rodehorst second at Wild West Shootout

GOTHENBURG, Neb. – In its last tune up before the first GPAC qualifier of the spring season, the Concordia University men’s golf squad placed in a tie for sixth among the field of 17 teams at the Wild West Shootout in Gothenburg, Neb., on Friday. Despite consistent winds around 30 miles per hour, the Bulldogs shot a solid 321 as a team and junior Shawn Rodehorst placed second individually with a two-over-par 74.

“It was a pretty good day overall,” head coach Brett Muller said. “We beat some GPAC teams that are ahead of us in the standings so hopefully we’ll use that as momentum going into Monday’s GPAC qualifier.”

Rodehorst’s 74 marked a season low over his combined 13 rounds over the fall and spring. The native of Kearney, Neb., recorded three birdies and consistently kept himself out of trouble by using a safe approach in the face of the gusty conditions at Wild Horse Golf Course. He finished just one stroke off of medalist honors.

“Shawn did a great job putting and put himself in good position off the tee,” Muller said. “He was hitting his one iron off the tee and hitting it low and keeping it on the fairways.”

Freshman Court Croghan, who was not part of the five-member varsity lineup on Friday, competed as an individual and shot an 80. That performance came on the heels of his 75 on day two of the Doane Invite on April 12 and earned him a spot in the lineup for the upcoming GPAC qualifier.

The other four Bulldogs in action on Friday were freshman Jared Knoepfel (81), senior Sam DeFreece (83) and sophomores Sam Simonson (83) and Garrett Suchanek (86).

Monday’s GPAC Qualifier No. 3 will be held at Lochland Country Club in Hastings, Neb. The Bulldogs are set to tee off at 12:40 p.m. Concordia currently sits in ninth place in the conference standings after carding a 317-345–662 over the first two qualifiers, which took place in the fall. On the individual leaderboard Knoepfel is tied for 15th (83-78–161) and Rodehorst is 27th (78-86–164).