Bemidji State golfers finish second in Sioux Falls

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Buoyed by an 11-over-par round Monday, the Bemidji State men’s golf squad leapfrogged three teams to take runner-up honors at the Luxury Auto Mall Classic.

The Beavers’ final round of 295 at the par-71, 6,901-yard Bakker Crossing Golf Course in Sioux Falls, S.D., put BSU eight strokes out of the lead with 602 (307-295) at +34.

Junior Andrew Ellefsen was the driving force behind the Beavers’ day two surge. The junior finished as one of just two players to post scores under par with 70 (-1). He finished the event tied for 13th individually at nine-over-par (81-70—151).

BSU’s Andrew Benson and Brett Musich were among five players tied for eighth place individually, five strokes off the lead, at eight-over-par (150). After Ellefsen, John Hafdal, who carded back-to-back 77s (+12) tied for 20th, while Nathan Brown rounded out the Beavers’ team scoring tied for 25th at 13-over-par (80-75—155).

Augustana took top team honors recording rounds of 303 and 291 to finish 26-over-par (594). Serving as the host team, the Vikings completed the event holding down four of the top seven spots on the individual leaderboard.

Minot State’s Kowan O’Keefe led from wire to wire and captured medalist honors finishing the event with a 36-hole total of 145 (70-75) to sit at three-over-par.

The Beavers return home Sept. 9-10 to host the BSU Invitational at Bemidji Town and Country Club.