Fresh off a third-place finish at the NJCAA Division III Golf Championship in Utica, New York, the College of DuPage men's golf team opened its fall season with a runner-up finish at the Highland 36 at Park Hills Golf Course in Freeport on Aug. 21.
The Highland 36, which featured 106 golfers, was shortened this year due to inclement weather. The event remains a challenging early-season test for the Chaps, with the demanding 36-hole format providing an opportunity to evaluate the team at the start of the season.
"It's 36 holes in one day, so it's sort of a long day. It's almost about attrition more than it is about play," head coach Jason Hyatt said. "That can lend to some good things down the road that I can use as a teaching moment."
DuPage delivered in Freeport, with the Chaps' Green team finishing second among 19 teams. Patrick Davis, Jack Boehmke, Kyrin Abella and Mitchell Keith combined to card a 306, finishing three strokes ahead of third-place finishers Highland and Bryant & Stratton, who tied.
Boehmke and Davis led the way individually, with Boehmke finishing eighth and Davis ninth after each carded a round of 75. Abella finished 24th with a 78, while Keith tied for 20th with a 78 to round out DuPage's top squad.
The Chaps' White team featured Ryan Desagun, who carded an 84, Henrik Wilson (86), Ben Holcombe (87) and Jake Rzeszutek (88).
Grayson Birkmeier added an 82 as part of the Green team, while Devin Cabello carded an 89 for the White squad.
DuPage will look to carry its early-season momentum into the Aurora University Double Gun on Sept. 8 at Aurora Country Club. Action is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.
