NIACC's Ham, Willms earn top 5 finshes at BVU Fall Invite
STORM LAKE - NIACC freshman Garrett Ham and Ashtin Willms both tied for fifth Sunday at the Buena Vista Fall Invitational.
Ham, who prepped at Lake Mills, shot rounds of 74-79 - 153 and Willms, who is from Belmond, shot 77-76 - 153. The Trojans' Bennett Berger, who was the first day leader with a 68, withdrew from the tournament Sunday with a sore back.
"The day didn't go as planned (Sunday) but we still had a couple of quality efforts from Garrett Ham and Ashtin Willms," NIACC coach Chris Frenz said. "Both of those guys played well all weekend as it was a grind with the windy and cold conditions.
"Bennett Berger, unfortunately, had to withdraw after the front nine due to injury. We thought it was best for him to stop not knowing exactly what was wrong. Hopefully, after a few days he'll be back to his normal self."
NIACC placed fifth in the team standings with rounds of 300-328 - 628. Loras College was the team champion with a 298-315 - 613.
Also for the Trojans, freshman Drew DeGabriele shot 81-86 - 167 and freshman Ian Roske shot 90-87 - 177.
"It just goes to show that everyone on the team is important," Frenz said, "because you never know when you're going to be called on to perform."
NIACC returns to action Friday at DMACC's Jim Currell Invitational at the Cedar Pointe Golf Course in Boone.
Team standings - Loras College 298-315 - 613, Simpson College 302-311 - 613, Grinnell University 313-313 - 626, Buena Vista University 305-322 - 627, NIACC 300-328 - 628, Wartburg College 320-313 - 633, Buena Vista B 329-335 - 664, Waldorf University B 323-345 - 668.
