Posted: Sep 30, 2018

Bender’s career weekend leads men’s golf at Wartburg

WAVERLY, Iowa -- Senior Blake Bender put together the two best rounds of his career and the Simpson men's golf team placed second of seven teams at the Wartburg Invitational, held Saturday and Sunday at Prairie Links Golf Club.

Simpson fired its two lowest rounds of the season, shooting 302 on Saturday and 313 on Sunday for a two-day total of 615, 22 strokes behind team champion Wartburg.

Bender opened the weekend with a 2-over 74 on Saturday, the best round of his career. He followed with a 4-over 76 -- tying his previous career low -- for a 36-hole total of 151. He tied for fourth place in the field of 37 golfers, just four strokes back of individual medalist Landen Pace of Wartburg.

Nathan Eaton and Reid Cobb also recorded top-10 finishes. Eaton was steady, shooting 76-75-151 to tie for sixth. Cobb carded the Storm's lowest round of the weekend with a 73 on Saturday, then followed with an 80 to place 10th.

Konner Johnson (79-82-161) tied for 20th and Lucas Hemphill (87-87-174) tied for 31st.

Storm Scorecard

Blake Bender — 74-76-150, t-4th
Nathan Eaton — 76-75-151, t-6th
Reid Cobb — 73-80-153, 10th
Konner Johnson — 79-82-161, t-20th
Lucas Hemphill — 87-87-174, 31st