MANHATTAN, KS. - Leatherneck men's golf finished up play at the Jim Colbert Intercollegiate on Tuesday, October 2. Western was led by sophomore Nate Davis, who fired a team-best 72 on the final day of play to finish in a tie for 21st place. Davis shot a three-round total of 239 (83, 84, 72) for the tournament.
As a team, the Purple & Gold finished in a tie for eighth-place with a two-day total of 968 (328, 332, 308). Host Kansas State took home the tournament title with a three-round total of 901. Idaho finished in second place with a 912 followed by Valparaiso in third with a 938. Missouri State and Creighton round out the top five with team scores of 939 and 949, respectively.
Dan Bidle finished day two with a 79, his best of the tournament, to finish in a tie for 30th place. Bidle finished the tournament with a 242 (80, 83, 79). Coming in two strokes behind Bidle in a tie for 36th place was Konrad Deka. The senior finished up play with a 244 (84, 80, 80).
Ben Kilborn finished play in a tie for 41st place with a three-round total of 247 (81, 89, 77). The senior's 77 on day two is tied for his second lowest score of the year. Tyler Thorman rounds out team play for the Leathernecks in a tie for 52nd place. The Macomb native finished the three-round tournament with a 257 (86, 85, 86).
Playing individually for Western in his first collegiate tournament, Nick Steffens finished in a tie for 36th place. Steffens finished play with a 244 (83, 83, 78).
"It was a difficult couple days in terms of conditions," said head coach Mel Blasi, "We just didn't adjust to the conditions, there was a really strong wind, probably 30 miles per hour. That's the trouble with college golf, when it's really windy almost anything can happen. We did however have some bright spots from our young guys. Nate Davis had the second lowest round out of anyone on Tuesday which was good to see, and Nick Steffens played in his first collegiate tournament and I thought he did well and had a great attitude"
The Leathernecks will have only three days off before heading to their next tournament this weekend. The team travels to Lemont, Illinois to play in the John Dallio Memorial. The tournament is slated to begin on Saturday, October 6 and concludes on Sunday, October 7.
