Lick ties for seventh to lead Beavers to fourth-place finish at Watkins Invitational

Beavers have three in the top 20

Caden Lick used a strong two-under final round to tie for seventh to help lead the Bemidji State University Men’s Golf team into a tie for fourth at the Watkins Invitational. The second and part of the first round wrapped up Tuesday after the first round was suspended due to weather on Monday halfway through.

The Beavers carded rounds of 295-288 (+7) on the par 72 course to tie with Minnesota Crookston for fourth. Host Winona State held off a late charge by Sioux Falls to win the 11-team field with a 13-under 563. Sioux Falls placed second at 566 and Upper Iowa in third at 581. Winona State’s Alesandro Trenta won on the individual side with a seven-under 137 to win by a stroke over Sioux Falls’ Mason Weeks.

Lick collected three birdies through the first round and three more during the second round for six through the tournament. He also added 26 pars. This gives Lick his second top 10 finish after tying for fifth at the BSU Invitational.

Brandon Bervig tied with Jack Southard for 13th as both finished at even par 144. Bervig was competing with the team of five, while Southard was an individual. Bervig had rounds of 73-71 for his 144, coming away with six birdies, with four during the second round. He had 25 pars through the two rounds. This gives Bervig three straight top 20 finishes this fall. Southard had rounds of 70-74 for his 144. He opened with four birdies in the first round and added two more for six throughout the tournament. He was consistent with 12 pars each day for 24 total.

Koby Kuenzel, also competing as an individual, was the next one in for the Beavers with a 147 (+3) to tie for 28th with rounds of 74-73. He recorded an eagle during the first round on hole nine. He added a birdie on that same hole during the second round. Overall, Kuenzel sunk three birdies and 24 pars, with 15 coming during the second round.

Logan Schoepp, competing with the team of five, was a shot behind Kuenzel with a four-over 188 with rounds of 75-73 to tie for 31st. He tallied eight birdies, four each round and added 18 pars.

Tate Usher, competing with the team of five, and Rory Wutzke, competing as an individual, each tied for 41st with 149’s (+5). Usher had rounds of 75-74, while Wutzke posted rounds of 72-77. Usher sunk nine birdies, with six during the opening round. He also added 16 pars. Wutzke tallied six birdies, with five happening in the first round. Wutzke added 20 pars.

Rounding out the five competing as a team for the Beavers was Teagan LaPlante who tied for 68th with rounds of 80-76 for a 156 (+12). LaPlante had seven birdies and 15 pars throughout the tournament.

Bemidji State will return to the course this coming Monday and Tuesday when they travel to St. Joseph, Mo., to compete in the Holiday Inn Express MWSU Invite at the St. Joseph Country Club.