ST. MICHAEL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern Men's Golf team opened its season on Tuesday by hosting the UNW Invite at Fox Hollow Golf Club. To allow for the full roster to play, the team was split up into three squads. In a field of 13 teams who battled rain in the morning, Northwestern finished second, third and 13^th. On top of the solid team performances, a freshman took home medalist honors in his collegiate debut. Full team and individual results can be found here.
 
Carson Besonen (Madison, Minn./Lac qui Parle Valley) burst onto the scene in his first college start, winning medalist honors via a scorecard playoff with a score of 69 (-3). The rookie picked up birdies on holes six, seven and 15, as well as an eagle on the par-five 11^th. Joining Besonen on UNW's second-place "A" team, which shot a team score of 297 (+9), was Shane Seiffert (Corcoran, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong). The senior posted a 75 (+3) with birdies on the fourth and fifth holes. Jackson Courteau (Otsego, Minn./Rogers) finished one shot behind Seiffert, using birdies on five, 11 and 16 to card a 76 (+4). Rounding out the Eagles' "A" team were Carter Dilly (Henning, Minn./Henning) (77, +5) and Jakob Swanson (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) (79, +7), who made consecutive birdies on holes four and five.
 
Northwestern's "B" team had a great showing as well, taking third place with a score of 302 (+14). Much like the "A" team, a freshman led the way with a red number. Luke Frazell (Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock) claimed fifth place, firing a 71 (-1) in his first outing with birdies on holes two, nine, 11 and 16. Carson Mersberger (Kiel, Wis./Elkhart Lake-Glenbeaulah) was right on his tail, birdieing holes seven, 10 and 11 en route to an even-par 72. UNW's third Carson, Carson Moscoso (Maple Grove, Minn./Maranatha Christian Academy), made two birdies on his way to a 78 (+6), while Noah Frazell's (Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock) two birdies produced an 81 (+9). Dawson Burke (Rogers, Minn./Maple Grove) carded a 90 to round out the "B" team's day.
 
The Eagles' "C" team was led by Andrew Carlson (Mosinee, Wis./Mosinee), who made a pair of front-nine birdies to turn in a 78 (+6). Sam Schwarz (Marshall, Minn./Marshall) finished with an 86 (+14), while freshman Tanner McNamee (Blaine, Minn./Legacy Christian Academy) made two birdies and shot an 87 (+15). Noah Carlson (Blaine, Minn./Blaine) closed out the day with a 92 (+20) in his college debut.
 
Northwestern will be back in action on Monday, September 8^th for the two-day Firebird Fall Invite in Wisconsin.