Men's golf starts spring strong, goes to Wartburg this weekend

PEOSTA, Iowa - Shaan Desai used a strong second round to finish tied for fourth, leading Simpson to a fourth-place finish in the team standings at the Duhawk Spring Invitational on April 6-7.

The Storm shot a 304 on Sunday's opening round and 299 on Monday, finishing with 603, three strokes behind third-place Wartburg.

Augsburg and Dubuque each shot 591 to tie for first at the 4,830-yard layout at Thunder Hills Country Club.

Desai fired an even-par 71 in the final round, passing teammate Trent Lindenman and breaking into the top five in the process. The sophomore shot a 5-over 76 in Sunday's opening round, finishing in a four-way tie for fourth at 5-over 147.

Lindenman led Simpson after the first day of the tournament, shooting a 2-over 73. He carded a 6-over 77 in the final round to finish at 150, tied for 12th.

Nathan Molstead shaved seven strokes between rounds one and two, finishing tied for 23rd (80-73-153). Andy Hutchins tied for 32nd (77-78-155), Conner Juilfs tied for 38th (78-79-157), Tanner Birchmier tied for 47th (80-80-160) and Jimmy Siebert tied for 68th (86-82-168).

Simpson travels to the Wartburg Invitational at Centennial Oaks this weekend. The two-round tournament begins Friday, April 11.

Season Notes

Lindenman goes into the tournament with the team's top average, shooting 77.0 in 11 rounds ... Desai (78.6) and Hutchins (79.4) make three Storm golfers under 80 on the season ... Desai's 71 on Monday matched Hutchins for the low round of the season ... Hutchins' low round came on the first competition of the fall season, firing a 71 in the opening round of the Midweat Regional at Trappers Turn in Wilsconsin Dells on Sept. 7.