MONTERREY, Mexico – The North Dakota State Men’s golf team finished eighth after the first 27-holes of play at the Monterrey Collegiate Classic at Club Campestre de Monterrey on Friday afternoon.
Senior Jake Skarperud (69-35—104) led the Bison through the round and a half. Skarperud shot six birdies and nine holes at par in the first round to finish -3. Skarperud picked up two more birdies and six holes at par through the front nine of round two to sit at -1 at the halfway point, and -4 overall in a tie for eighth.
Carter White (71-38—109) and Rylin Petry (72-37—109) are tied for 31st at +1 through 27-holes. In the first round, White tallied four birdies and 11 holes at par to finish -1. Petry shot an even-par in round one, shooting 14-holes at par and two birdies. Both White and Petry logged a birdie on the first hole and round two, with Petry sitting at +1 and White at +2 through half of the second round.
Gabe Benson (73-38—111) was the final scoring Bison for the first round. Benson logged four birdies and nine holes at par in round one to finish +1. Benson shot seven consecutive holes at par to start round two and sits at +2 heading into the back nine, and +3 overall in a tie for 47th.
Andrew Ballou (74-36—110) and Max Wilson (82-36—118) round out the Bison lineup. Ballou fired an eagle on the fifth hole in the first round, along with one birdie and 11 holes at par to finish +2. Ballou is currently even through the front nine of the second round, picking up a birdie on the first hole and seven holes at par to sit in a tie for 39th at +2. Wilson, who is playing as an individual, shot +10 in round one and is at an even-par through half of round two, sitting in a tie for 68th at +10 overall.
As a team, the Bison (285-146—431) sit in eighth of 12 teams at -1 overall. UTRGV (280-136—416) lead the field by seven strokes at -16 overall, with VCU (282-141—423) and Richmond (283-141—423) tied for second at -9.
NDSU will wrap up the Monterrey Collegiate Classic and their fall season on Saturday morning.