FORT DODGE - The Southwestern men's golf team finished second in the 11-team field Sunday and Monday at the Iowa Central Spring Invite.

The Spartans posted a two-day team score of 603, finishing 10 strokes back of team champion Mount Mercy University. The field also included Region XI foes DMACC, Iowa Lakes, NIACC, Iowa Central and Hawkeye Community College.

Southwestern was led by sophomore Shaun Richards, who finished tied for second with a 3-over-par score of 145. Richards shot a personal best 69 on Sunday, one stroke away from tying the school record.

Sophomore Jesper Holke-Farnam moved 22 spots up the leaderboard on Monday thanks to his 1-over-par round of 72. Holke-Farnam finished in eighth place with his score of 151. Reinhardt Saunderson also improved on Day 2, moving nine spots up the leaderboard to finish in a tie for 13th place with his score of 153. Oliver Pearson tied for 21st after moving 13 spots up the leaderboard Monday and Kyle Somers finished tied for 28th.

"Day 2 was definitely more difficult conditions," Southwestern Head Golf Coach Doug North said. "The guys were the only team in the top nine teams to improve from Day 1 to Day 2 and the only team to shoot under 300 on Day 2. Sot the guys ended up finishing solo second behind Mount Mercy, who is a perennial powerhouse on the guys side."

Southwestern sat in a tie for fourth place after Sunday at 304, but shot five strokes better as a team on Sunday.

The Spartan men are now off until the Region XI Championships May 4-5 at Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames, although North said he may still find another competition for the men prior to regionals.

"For them, it's just fine-tuning," North said about the emphasis between now and regionals. "Big emphasis on the short game, improving that, and doing the little things right all day, every day. Regionals is what we're gearing up for."