Trojans place ninth at The Verhille Invite

IOWA CITY - The NIACC men's golf team placed ninth at The Verhille Invitational on Wednsday at Finkbine Golf Course.

NIACC shot a two-day total of 321-326 - 640. Kirkwood was the team champion with a 288-296 - 584 and Baker University was second with a 311-297 - 608.

"We just didn't play well (Wednesday)," NIACC coach Chris Frenz said. "Mentally, we dwell on things too much and we don't seem to free ourselves up to play good golf.

"I realize it's tough when you're not hitting the shots you want, but you need to buckle down and work through that."

Sophomore Bryce Malchow shot 76-79 - 155 and freshman Jackson Koebernick shot 81-79 - 160 to lead the Trojans.

"I thought Jackson Koebernick did a great job on the back nine," Frenz said. "Bryce Malchow, while he gets down on himself at times, never gives up."

Also for the Trojans, freshman Tim Castle shot 80-81 - 161, freshman Anders Palmquist shot 87-81 - 168 and freshman Elic Fjetland shot 84-87 - 171.

NIACC returns to action May 1-2 at the NJCAA Region XI tournament in Panora.

"We'll learn from the past two days," Frenz said, "and hopefully have great weather over the next week and a half to get ready for the regional tournament."

Team standings - Kirkwood 288-296 - 584, Baker University 311-297 - 608, Mount Mercy University 304-305 - 609, DMACC 296-318 - 614, Culver Stockton 309-311 - 620, St. Ambrose 316-305 - 621, Illinois Central 312-313 - 625, Mount Mercy B 316-317 - 633, NIACC 321-326 - 640, Mount Mercy C 323-322 - 645, Viterbo 328-318 - 646.