LAKE CITY, Minn. - The Golden Bear men's golf team won the Watkins Invitational on Tuesday after posting a team score of 565 (-11). Sophomore Josh Esterley won the tournament individually shooting 136 (-8) and senior Thomas Gutzmer took second place shooting 139 (-5). 
This is the second time in program history that the Golden Bears have won back-to-back tournaments after emerging victorious in the CSP/MSU Fall Brawl last week. Concordia last won back-to-back tournaments in 2022-23 after the fall season finale at the Newman Invite and the spring opener at the Minnesota State Spring Invite.
The 565 (-11) tied the best team score in program history with an identical score of 565 (-11) at the Bemidji State Invitational to open the 2022 season. This is the third time in program history the Golden Bears have finished under par in a tournament. Concordia also tallied its first-ever win at The Jewel Golf Club.
Esterley's 136 (-8) is the second-best two-round score in program history, falling one stroke behind Brandon Sperling's 135 (-9) at 2022's Bemidji State Invitational. Esterley becomes the 11th Golden Bear in program history to finish in first place at a competition and the latest since Sperling in 2022.
Esterley's 65 (-7) in round one tied for the best individual round in school history. The sophomore birdied the first two holes in the second round to sit at nine under par. After hitting back-to-back bogeys, Esterley rebounded with birdies on holes six and eight.
Later in the round, Esterley birdied hole 10 to sit at 10 under par. He bogeyed hole 11 and double-bogeyed hole 13 before hitting birdie on hole 16 and finishing his day with a bogey on hole 18. Esterley finished the day shooting 71 (-1). In total, Esterley finished the tournament with two eagles, nine birdies, 20 pars, four bogeys and one double bogey.
Gutzmer's 139 (-5) is a career-best with the Golden Bears after he transferred to the team last season. The senior had the best second round of any Concordia golfer on Tuesday shooting 69 (-3) after Monday's 70 (-2) round one performance. This smashed his previous best score of three over par and his best overall placement he set last week at the Fall Brawl where he tied for eighth.
The senior shot even par with two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine. He came alive on the back nine. After a bogey on hole 10. Gutzmer hit birdies on holes 12, 15 and 17 to finish the round. He tallied 11 birdies, 20 pars, three bogeys and two double bogeys in the tournament.
Tyler Debruyckere shot rounds of 75 (+3) and 73 (+1) tying for 22nd shooting 148 (+4). Debruyckere shot three birdies in round two and totaled 20 total pars in the tournament. After entering the day tied for third place, Tommy Marker shot 78 (+6) in the second round, also tying for 22nd at 148 (+4).
Trey Timm's second-round score of 72 (E) counted towards Tuesday's team total. Timm majorly rebounded after Monday's 82 (+10) finishing tied for 51st. Timm hit 12 pars, three birdies and three bogeys in the second round.
Sophomore Chase Camilli competed as an individual and tied Esterley's second-round shooting 71 (-1) on Tuesday. Camilli finished with four birdies on the day. He finished tied for 30th shooting a total of 150 (+6). Bailey Johnston and Camden O'Malley also competed individually tying for 65th and 79th respectively.
The Golden Bears won the tournament by 11 strokes over Winona State shooting 576 (E). Minnesota State was one stroke behind the Warriors in third and Minot State was one stroke behind the Mavericks in fourth.
Mason Weeks of Sioux Falls, Gavin Argent of UMary and Luke Mass of Winona State tied for third place shooting 140 (-4). Mass had a superb second-round shooting 66 (-6) and was in second place most of the day. He had the second-best round of the tournament behind Esterley's 65 (-7) on Monday.
The Golden Bears will be off this upcoming week before returning to action at the Central Region Preview on Oct. 7-8. The tournament takes place in St. Joseph, Missouri at the local country club and is hosted by Missouri Western State.
