NIACC's Castle wins Graceland Spring Invite

• Castle fires round of 76 in chilly conditions
• Trojans place fifth with a 343

MARYVILLE, Mo. - NIACC sophomore Tim Castle earned individual medalist honors Friday at the Graceland University Spring Invitational at the Mozingo Lake Golf Course.

Castle, who prepped at Newman Catholic, shot a 36-40 - 76 to pick up his first collegiate individual title. He is the second individual medalist this school year as Elic Fjetland also won the 2023 Waldorf University Fall Invitational.

Castle was the 22nd different NIACC men's golfer to earn individual medalist honors in the Chris Frenz era, which began in the fall of 2006.

The season-opening invitational was originally scheduled for a two-day event but was shortened to 18 holes to due frigid weather conditions.

"Tim Castle came through in a big way," NIACC coach Chris Frenz said. "Tim started on four holes that were dead straight into a driving wind and he came through there even par.

"He did a tremendous job of battling the elements and staying mentally tough and locked in. He's put a lot of work into his game and he built off off of how he played in Florida last week."

NIACC placed fifth in the team standings with a 343. Hawkeye CC was the team champion with a 331 and Waldorf was second with a 335.

The Trojans also received 89s from Fjetland, Anders Palmquist and Mitchell Staudt. Jackson Koebernick shot a 90.

Playing as individuals for the Trojans were Tommy Birdsell (91) and Bennett Suntken (101).

"We only lost by nine strokes as a team," Frenz said, "so that tells you how tough a day it was, but we'll get better each week. We just need to stop making mental mistakes."

NIACC returns to action April 1-2 at the Clarke University Spring Invitational.

Team standings - Hawkeye CC 331, Waldorf 335, Concordia, Neb. 340, Southwestern 340, NIACC 343, Metropolitan State 363. Graceland 373, Concordia (Wisconsin) 376.

NIACC MEN'S INDIVIDUAL MEDALISTS (Fall 2006-current)