WAVERLY - Southwestern sophomore Reinhardt Saunderson posted a school-record round of 68 Saturday to give himself a two-stroke victory at the Wartburg Spring Invite held at Prairie Links Golf Club.
Saunderson recorded the low round of the day on Saturday during round two, while many other golfers struggled. After shooting a 73 during Friday's first round, Saunderson went 4-under par Saturday to finish with a two-day total of 3-under-par 141. That total was two strokes better than second place, which was a three-way tie between Kirkwood's Ben Epperly and Ryan Morrison and Iowa Lakes' Cameron Maxwell.
Saunderson's round of 68 bettered the Southwestern 18-hole school record, set by Kyle Somers in the fall, by one stroke.
"We talked before the round about hitting fairways and hitting greens in regulation, that he'd have 14 greens a round and 14 chances at birdie," Southwestern Head Golf Coach Doug North said. "He's always been a ball striker and finds the green. He did that and finally made some putts. And, he missed a 4-footer on 18 for a 67."
Saunderson led the Spartans to a third-place finish in the field of 14 teams, just two strokes behind team champion DMACC and one stroke behind runner-up Kirkwood. DMACC posted a team score of 8-over-par 584, with Kirkwood at 9-over-par 585 and Southwestern at 10-over-par 586. As a team, Southwestern got out to a slow start with a first-day score of 295 - nine strokes behind DMACC. But, much like Saunderson individually, the Spartans made up ground on day two. The Spartans shot four shots better - 291 - on Saturday than Friday, and made up seven strokes on DMACC in the process.
North said the 291 on Saturday was three shots off the school record over 18 holes, while the two-day 36-hole score of 586 was another Spartan school record.
"We finally put some rounds together, which was good to see," North said. "We've had one decent round here and there, but not together. ... Every tournament from here on out is going to be fun. We're finally starting to play golf well as a team. We know what we have ahead of us and we know we can compete with any of them."
Sophomore Oliver Pearson finished ninth overall with rounds of 70 and 76 for a 2-over-par 146. Sophomore Jesper Holke-Farnam tied for 11th place with rounds of 78 and 71 for a 5-over-par 149. Shaun Richards rounded out the team scoring for Southwestern with his 10-over-par 154 on rounds of 78 and 76, which tied him for 24th. Somers, of Creston, finished tied for 27th with rounds of 74 and 81 for an 11-over-ar 155.
"Oliver Pearson had a great round one. His last four holes on round two hurt him a little bit," North said. "Jesper finished 11th. All three of those guys get some kudos coming their way. It's good to see these guys finally starting to have some fun and click."
Southwestern competes in the Region XI Spring Preview at Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames today before traveling to the North Central Missouri College Spring Invitational in Chillicothe, Missouri, on Friday and Saturday.