GOODYEAR, Ari. - The Concordia-St. Paul men's golf team jumped up two spots on Tuesday to win the Maverick Desert Invitational with a team score of 583 (+7). This marks CSP's third first-place team finish this season, tying 2022-23 for the most in a season in program history.
Senior Tommy Marker had an outstanding day shooting 68 (-4) to total a score of 142 (-2) to tie for second place. Tuesday's round marked the lowest of his career and this is Marker's best placement in a tournament in his career.
The team race came down to the final golfers on the final hole with the Golden Bears leading Rockhurst (Mo.) by a stroke. Sophomore Josh Esterley and Rockhurst's David Schilp both bogeyed the final hole, giving CSP the one-stroke victory.
The Golden Bears thrived on the first five holes of the back nine shooting 77 (-7) between the top four golfers on those holes. CSP's top five golfers all birdied on the par-five hole 14. The team then shot 69 (+10) on the last four holes, but was still able to hold on for the victory.
Marker's round featured six birdies and two bogeys. He shot 33 (-3) on the front nine and 35 (-1) on the back nine. He was even on par fours and shot five-under-par on par fives. Marker's eight birdies tied for the eighth-most at the tournament.
Trey Timm tied for 11th shooting 72 (E) on Tuesday and 73 (+1) for a total of 145 (+1). This is the third-best finish for the junior in his career. Timm had the third-best average on par threes in the tournament, shooting even on them. His nine total birdies tied for the third most in the tournament.
Esterley tied for 16th shooting rounds of 71 (-1) and 75 (+3) for a 146 (+2) total. He also tied for the third-most birdies in the tournament with nine. This is the sophomore transfer's second-highest finish of the season.
Tyler Debruyckere shot 76 (+4) to round out the top four rounds for CSP. He finished tied for 32nd with a total score of 150 (+6). Thomas Gutzmer rounded out CSP's varsity team tied for 55th shooting 79 (+7) on the day to finish at 155 (+11).
Rockhurst finished in second at 584 (+8). Vanguard (Calif.) was close behind in third at 586 (+10). Minnesota State placed fourth shooting 587 (+11).
Bemidji State's Brogan Paschal took first place shooting a total of 138 (-6). His 67 (-5) on Tuesday was the lowest round of any golfer at the tournament. Paschal was competing for the Bemidji State "B" team.
Marker's 68 (-4) was the second-lowest score at the tournament. He finished in a three-way tie for second place with Minnesota State's Jack Scharder and Northeast Community College's (Neb.) Luke Bonser. Scharder also competed for Minnesota State's "B" team.
The Golden Bears also had four golfers compete individually. Senior Bailey Johnston tied for 41st with a score of 152 (+8). Johnston shot 74 (+2) on Tuesday, marking the lowest round of his career with CSP.
Chase Camilli and Camden O'Malley tied for 70th shooting 159 (+15). Sam Rudolph tied for 77th shooting 165 (+21).
This is the second time the Golden Bears have won the Maverick Desert Classic, with the last win in 2023. That also marked CSP's third tournament win that season. Concordia shot 577 (+1) as a team that year.
The Golden Bears will be off next week before competing in the NSIC Conference Preview hosted by Winona State on March 24-25. The tournament takes place at Adams Pointe Golf Club in Blue Springs, Missouri where the NSIC Championships will also be held later this spring.
