The men's golf team opened the 2009 season with a sixth place finish at the 13-team Buena Vista Invitational played at the Lake Creek Country Club in Storm Lake, Iowa. The Raiders shot a 318, just 11 shots in back of first place Dakota Wesleyan with a 307. USF (308), Morningside (310), Dordt (312) and Hastings (316) all finished ahead of NWC.
Individually, the Raiders were led by Luke Vermeer, Ross Kiewiet and Johnny Schwaller who tied for 13th place with a six-over 78. Aaron Rozeboom finished one shot back with a 79, tying for 19th place. Michael Dykema (T33-82), Michael Clark (T39-83) and Jon Roberts (T45-84) were the other Raider golfers. Overall medalist honors went to Tyler Evenson of DWU who shot a two-over 74. He won the tie-break over Brady Nurse of Morningside. Three golfers tied for third, Andrew Farrand (DWU), Blake Lubben (Dordt) and Thomas Thompson (USF), all shooting a three-over 75.
Coach Bloemendaal's squad will next play in the Morningside Invite on Tuesday, Sept. 8 in Sioux City.
