HUTCHINSON, Minn. - After competing in a big Midwest Region Classic field last weekend in Wisconsin, the University of Northwestern Men's Golf team is closer to home this weekend and facing familiar competition. The Sword and Shield Invitational, hosted by Bethany Lutheran College and Martin Luther College, is comprised almost entirely of UMAC schools, plus Alexandria Technical and Community College. The two-day tournament will be split between sites, with Friday's round taking place at Crow River Golf Club in Hutchinson, and Saturday's at Buffalo Lake's Oakdale Golf Club. Follow along with the action all weekend here.

Day One - Crow River Golf Club

After the first round of play, Northwestern finds itself tied for second place with Bethany Lutheran at 310 (+26), two shots behind leader Alexandria T&CC. Luke Frazell (Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock) was the lowest Eagle on Friday, although he did not count toward the team score as he was entered into the tournament as an individual player. The sophomore fired a 74 (+3) with a pair of birdies, and is tied for third place, individually, entering the final round. The best score in the starting lineup belonged to Carter Dilly (Henning, Minn./Henning), who made three birdies en route to a 76 (+5), which places him in a tie for seventh place. Carson Besonen (Madison, Minn./Lac qui Parle Valley) is one stroke behind Dilly after turning in a six-over 77 on Friday, while Tanner Doeden (Fargo, N.D./Park Christian) finds himself in a tie for 13th at 78 (+7). Carson Moscoso (Maple Grove, Minn./Maranatha Christian Academy) is tied for 20th with one round to play after a 79 (+8), and Marshall Kraft (Hopkins, Minn./Hopkins) rounded out the starting five with an 81 (+10).

Two other Eagles joined Frazell as individual players for the weekend, and both put together solid opening rounds. Eliah Harding (Prentice, Wis./Prentice) parred his final five holes to card a 77 (+6), which ties the freshman for 10th, while Jackson Courteau (Otsego, Minn./Rogers) was one behind him with a 78 (+7), which included birdies on his second and third holes of the shotgun start.

UNW will head to Oakdale Golf Club in Buffalo Lake, Minnesota, for the final round of the tournament on Saturday morning.

Day Two - Oakdale Golf Club

The move from Hutchinson to Buffalo Lake proved to be the switch-up the Eagles needed, as they rode a hot day from Carson Besonen (Madison, Minn./Lac qui Parle Valley) to a team score of 304 (+20) to surge from behind and win the tournament by nine strokes at +46. It was the first win of the season for Northwestern and couldn't come at a better time, with the UMAC Championship on deck next weekend. Besonen birdied his first hole of the day and tacked on two more to shoot an even-par 72, the second-lowest score of the day, and tie for second place at +6 overall. Moscoso made a pair of birdies to shoot 77 (+5) and tie for 11th on the weekend, while Dilly had four red numbers and tied for eighth at +12 after a final-round 79 (+7). Doeden and Kraft each shot 80 (+8) on Saturday to finish at +15 and +18, respectively.

Two of UNW's individual competitors finished in the top 10, including Frazell, who followed up his Friday 74 with a 75 (+3) on Saturday to tie Besonen at +6 for second place. Harding also turned in a 75 to come in sixth place at +9 for the event, while Courteau carded a 78 (+6) to tie for 11th with a final tally of +13.

Up Next

Northwestern is heating up at the right time, as the next time they will compete will be at the UMAC Championship. The three-day tournament will kick off Thursday, October 8th, with all three rounds beginning at 11:00 AM at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker.