Kilat Fitzgerald/Winonan
The Winona State University men’s golf team took second place at the NSIC Golf Tournament at The Jewel in Lake City, Minn. last week.
First-year Michael Schmitz led the Warriors on the first day of the tournament shooting one-under-par (70) and just one shot back of Kelton Schmitz of Minnesota State, who shot a 69 to take a one-shot lead at the Par 71, 6,669-yard course. The Warrior Schmitz shot a 71 at the J.R. Watkins Invitational at the same location Sept. 5.
Sophomore Jonathan Lindquist – who made the all-tournament team in the NSIC Championship last year – shot one-over-par (72) to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place after the opening round. Senior Jake Olsonoski fired a first-round 76, tying for 20th place in the process.
Senior Mitch Holm added a 77 in the first round for a 24th place tie, while senior Nick Hernandez shot an opening round 78 to tie for 28th.
On the second day, Jonathan Lindquist jumped into a four-way tie for first place while the Warriors made it to second as a team after the fall section of the NSIC Championship last Tuesday.
“Sometimes it’s better to be chasing than in the lead,” coach Jeff Straight said.
The Warriors made improvements of their team score by one shot over the course of the two-day tournament. They closed the opening round on Monday with a total score of 295 and cut it to 294 Tuesday. The score overtook St. Cloud State who shot 302 in the second round to drop to third place.
The Warriors, who are currently 21-above-par for the tournament, find themselves six shots behind Minnesota State, who leads the tournament at 15-over-par.
First-year Michael Schmitz dropped to a fifth-place tie with a second-round 75 after opening with a 70 the day before. Schmitz is currently tied with Bemidji State’s Cody Cook at 3-over-par for the tournament.
Straight said Schmitz’s performance was better than he had expected.
Senior Mitch Holm bounced back from an opening round of 77 to fire a 72, earning him a 14th place tie on the leaderboard. Seniors Nick Hernandez and Jake Olsonoski both played rounds of 75 and 77, respectively, tying them in 22nd place.
The final two rounds of the four-round championship will be concluded April 9 and April 10 at the Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville, Mo.
The Warriors will wrap up its fall season in the Missouri Western Invitational Oct. 12 and Oct. 13 in St. Joseph, Mo.
Straight said Minnesotans are often believed by Southerners to be inferior golfers due to the snow that denies use of many courses throughout parts of the year.
“We like to go south and prove them wrong,” Straight said. “Our goal is to make it to Regionals.”
