Staff Writer- Alayna Boe
Taking the home field advantage, literally, the No. 23 ranked Gustavus Men’s Golf team reigned victorious at the Bobby Krig Invite held on April 18th and 19th. The Gusties finished the two-day event with a team score of 871 (+19), which gave them a comfortable 15-shot lead over the competition.
This victory was largely fueled by a well-balanced performance across the entire lineup. Three Gusties finished in the top 10 individuals. Sophomore Jimmy Abdo led the change for the team and finished in second place with a score of +3. Abdo’s momentum was at an all time high during the second round where he shot a -2 on the par 71. He shot an eagle on the par five, fifth hole and then returned to his discipline and played well the rest of the round.
“Well, day two was much longer. We played 36 holes and the temperature was brutal. I think what helped is we were playing our home course on day two. So we felt a lot more comfortable. Especially the ones who hadn’t played New Prague a lot, it’s a very tricky course if you’re not certain where to hit it. Another big difference on day two is that everyone’s score counted at least one of the rounds. So we had everyone contributing, which is a comfortable feeling as a player out there knowing your team came ready to play,” Abdo relayed.
Senior Chris Gutza also delivered a standout performance, finishing in seventh place overall after navigating a final day of ups and downs. Gutza matched Abdo’s 69 in the second round, with six birdies in a single 18-hole stretch. He tallied four on the back nine alone. His veteran presence was felt during the last round when conditions switched, and he was able to recover from bogeys and maintain the Gusties in the top position.
Rounding out the top-ten trio, Junior Blake Forrest finished in eighth place to ensure the Gusties had the strongest presence in this invitational. Forrest remained consistent across all three rounds, providing reliable scores that are necessary to score top in these tournaments. His performance, alongside Senior Wyatt Carlson’s consistency, meant the Gusties rarely needed to add a large sum to their team score. This consistency allowed the team to build a lead and then defend it on Sunday’s long session.
The invite began on Saturday at The New Prague Golf Club in New Prague, Minnesota, and the conditions were anything but nice. Frigid and taxing, the Gusties had their work cut out for them, but they managed to jump out to a 12-shot lead in the cold. This set the tone for the rest of the weekend. Coach Scott Moe noted that the opening day was a “tough battle,” but also praised his players for their mental toughness in the poor weather. The early lead became vital and allowed the team to play with more confidence as they transitioned to their home course in Le Sueur.
Sunday’s schedule was demanding for the athletes, as they spent nearly 10 hours on the course. Completing 36 holes at Le Sueur Country Club, the Gusties had to stay mentally in the zone in order to play their best. While the team faced a rocky start to their final afternoon round, they avoided panic and buckled down in order to finish strong. This late surge prevented up-and-coming teams, like Carleton and Bethel, from taking the lead.
Beyond the primary varsity squad, the Gustavus “B” team showed impressive depth and finished sixth overall. Sophomore Aradheea Gawade and Senior Pelayo Perese Crespo led the secondary group, with Gawade sitting in the second-place individual spot after round one. The presence of First-year Ford Finster, Zach Havron, and Kyle Peterson showed the bright future of this Gusties golf team. Having 12 players able to play at this top level provides team competition and makes everyone their best.
The Bobby Krig Invite served as a crucial win for Gustavus and shows what can become of this spring season. Earlier in the month, the team saw split results where low scores were scattered across different groups rather than in the scoring five. However, this weekend the top five all finished 16th or higher. This shows the peak efficiency for the lineup. This synchronization of talent is exactly what the team hopes to see as the postseason is approaching.
With the trophy secured, the Gusties now turn their attention to the upcoming Saint John’s Spring Invitational, which promises another deep and talented field. That event will provide a preview of the regional competition the team will face as they look toward national qualification. This is the time of the season to refine and work on the short game and also maintain the momentum from week to week.
“I think our team is managing the stress of the end of the year well. Especially fighting for a spot in the national championship, it can be hard to manage emotions, but we know what we have to do. Everyone is going to keep working hard at it and everything else will work out for itself,” Abdo said on how the team is maintaining their composure.
As the No. 23 team in the nation, Gustavus is currently operating under stressful conditions in each matchup. Their performance this weekend reaffirmed their status as the team to beat in the MIAC and a force to be reckoned with in all DIII golf. The combination of Seniors and First-years shows how the Gusties will be good now and in the future.