A Grind vs. Two Different Opponents
The Cobber Spring Invite was a grind against two different opponents with the Concordia Maroon team taking second place.
MOORHEAD, Minn. (4/15/17)---The opening round of the Cobber Spring Invite was a grind against Mother Nature. The second round was a battle against the field.
The Concordia Maroon team shot a total of 303 during the near-ideal conditions on Saturday at the Meadows GC and placed second in the first tournament of the spring season. The Cobber Gold team led their maroon counterparts by seven shots after Round 1 at Village Green GC but then fired a 312 on Saturday and placed fourth in the eight-team field.
The Concordia Maroon team had three players finish in the Top 7 of the tournament while the Gold squad had the low Concordia player for the invite.
Senior Cade Montplaisir was one of only four golfers in the entire tournament to break 80 on the first day which was played in extreme windy conditions. He then shot even-par 72 on Saturday to record a second-place finish just two strokes off the top spot.
The second-day 72 was the third lowest round of the season for Montplaisir. His second-place finish marks the third time he has posted a Top 10 finish for the year.
Sophomore Nathaniel Kahlbaugh shot the low round of the tournament. He carded a 1-under 71 on the second day and finished in a tie for seventh place. He went out with an 84 in the very windy conditions on Friday.
The 71 is a season low for Kahlbaugh. His previous best was a 74 in the second round of the Twin Cities Classic.
Kahlbaugh's younger brother Blake Kahlbaugh earned low total honors for the Concordia Maroon team. Blake Kahlbaugh had one of the rounds in the 70's on Day 1 and then followed that up with a 78 on Saturday. His two-day total of 153 was good for third place.
The third-place finish is the first time Blake has posted a Top 20 finish this season.
Gage Stromme also posted a pair of rounds in the 70's and finished between the Kahlbaugh brothers in a tie for fourth place. Stromme went out in 78 and then came home in 76. He entered the spring season having shot in the 70's only one other time in his 10 rounds during the fall season.
Sam Hendricks, Trevor Swangler and Zach Whitchurch were the other three members of the Cobber teams to place in the Top 20. Hendricks tied for 17th with a two-round total of 160 (82-78). Swangler and Whitchurch both carded identical scores of 161. Both players also had an 81 and an 80 on their scorecards at the end of the tournament.
WHAT'S NEXT: The Cobbers will continue with their spring season by heading south and competing in the Bobby Krig Invitational hosted by Gustavus. The two-day invite at Ridges at Sand Creek GC and Le Sueur CC will take place on Apr. 23 and 24.