Jim Walsh

VERMILLION, S.D. –- The University of South Dakota men’s golf team battled through tough playing conditions to post a second-place finish at the Coyote Spring Invitational, held Tuesday at the Bluffs Golf Course in Vermillion, S.D.

USD finished the 36-hole event at 624 and finished 11 shots behind winner Concordia-Moorhead. Only one of the eight teams improved its score from Monday.

Tuesday’s final round was played in rain and wind for much of the day, leading to very difficult conditions.

The Coyotes’ top finisher was freshman Ben Heller (Aberdeen, S.D.), who fired a 78 Tuesday and finished at 153 for the two days. Heller was fourth overall and was one of only six golfers (out of a field of 38) to break 80 during Tuesday’s round.

Senior Jim Walsh (Sioux Falls, S.D.) had a solid day, firing a 79 and finishing at 155 overall, placing him sixth as he continued a stretch of good finishes. Coyote senior Matt Campbell (Aberdeen, S.D.) and junior Kyle Scanlon (Stillwater, Minn.) tied for 10th overall at 159. Campbell shot an 83 on Tuesday while Scanlon carded an 83. Freshman Ty Munneke (Champlin, Minn.) shot a 160 (75-85) and finished in a tie for 12th.

Sophomore Zach Huth (Stillwater, Minn.), competing for the USD B team, tied for eighth overall at 158 (76-82).

The overall winner was Luke Vermeer of Northwestern, who shot a 148 (75-73) for the 36 holes.

The next action for the USD men is set for April 25-27 at the Great West Championship in Edinburg, Texas. The USD women will play at the Creighton Invitational starting on Monday in Omaha, Neb.